Tens of thousands flock to Hong Kong’s annual Lunar New Year night parade
A bitter chill swept through Tsim Sha Tsui as Hong Kong’s annual Lunar New Year night parade marked its 20th anniversary with spectacle to usher in the year of the goat.
A bitter chill swept through Tsim Sha Tsui as Hong Kong’s annual Lunar New Year night parade marked its 20th anniversary on Thursday evening with spectacular performances to usher in the year of the goat.
An estimated 150,000 festival-goers huddled and shivered – some for several hours – to find the best views of the colourful floats and performances.
Clear vantage points and much warmer temperatures are expected for the firework spectacular across Victoria Harbour at 8pm tonight.
Highlights, at least judging by the crowd’s response, were an Okinawa barrel drum dance from Japan, a Sun Chiang Battle Array folk temple dance by Taiwan’s Shih Chien University, and a group of French opera singers standing more than five metres tall in elaborate costumes.
Meanwhile, locally-sponsored performances by Hang Seng Bank and the Hong Kong Jockey Club dazzled many. Hundreds of people in golden-coloured lion costumes thundered down Canton Road getting up close to the crowds in the Jockey Club’s effort, while performers for the Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Association hoisted paper dragons into the air.