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Tony Cheung

Danny Lee

Kanis Leung

Pig-themed pyrotechnics sparkled over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour as the city marked the Lunar New Year with a showpiece fireworks display on Wednesday evening.
The weather gods were much kinder than the forecasters had predicted, and fog and drizzle mostly held off so visitors enjoyed a clear view of the 23-minute show.
Hundreds of thousands of people – locals and visitors alike – lined both sides of the harbour to enjoy the HK$10 million display marking the Year of the Pig.
The newly refurbished Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui was packed with visitors hours before the display started at 8pm.


Police used metal barriers to stop people from entering the waterfront boulevard, modelled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which was full by late afternoon.
As the show kicked off, revellers watched in awe, with many using their smartphones to capture the moment. Some asked: “Is that a pig snout?”
Highlights included the display of the number “8” – considered the luckiest number in Chinese culture – and golden ingots in the first scene to symbolise a prosperous year to come.
Best to stick with cautious optimism in Year of the Pig
That was followed by the display of pig noses along with the theme song of popular local cartoon character McDull in the second scene, wishing people all the best in the Year of the Pig.
Local resident Lam Hiu-kwan, 22, said the show was better than last year’s.
“The music and the fireworks matched each other,” the university graduate said. “I could see pig snouts!”

Tourists were also impressed. Chen Yuzhu, 30, a social worker from Shenzhen, said it was her first time to enjoy fireworks in Hong Kong.
“The Cantonese background music fit the scene well. I spotted pig snouts too,” she said.
IT technician Zhang Yi, 40, from Guizhou, said he was lucky to have seen the extravaganza on his first day in Hong Kong. He added it was meaningful to see the pig elements.
Expedia's Feng Shui travel guide tells you where to go
To Manuel Anzola, an army officer from Venezuela, the final scene was the best.
“It had the most colours and was the most explosive,” he said

However, the visibility did spark at least one complaint.
Roberto Rossi, a university student from Italy, said: “The most powerful was the ending scene, but it was still too foggy.”
In total, 4.5 tonnes of fireworks – some 23,888 pyrotechnic shells – were fired from three barges anchored 350 metres off the Wan Chai waterfront. The show also featured fireworks making heart shapes to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
US firms use Lunar New Year to engage with Asian-Americans
Police previously estimated that about 280,000 people would watch the extravaganza, on the second night of the new lunar year.
The show cost about HK$10 million, paid for by sponsor Shimao Group, an international investment group.

As people flocked to the harbourfront to grab the best spots for the fireworks, the Observatory said Wednesday had been the hottest second day of the Lunar New Year since records began in the late 19th century.
Hongkongers enjoy spectacular performances at Lunar New Year night parade
The maximum temperature recorded at the Observatory was 24.9 degrees at 2.30pm, a record for the second day of the new lunar year.
The previous record was set on February 3, 1973, when the temperature reached 24.4 degrees.
The Observatory had forecast some fog and a few light rain patches for the evening.




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Lunar New Year

Hong Kong’s HK$10 million Lunar New Year fireworks display dazzles despite forecast for foggy weather

Fireworks light up Victoria Harbour to celebrate Lunar New Year, photographed from the Avenue of Stars. Photo: Nora Tam

Fog seen across the Victoria Harbour, taken from Tsim Sha Tsui. 19MAR18 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Fireworks display over Victoria Harbour to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. 29JAN17 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Aerial drone view of the fireworks display over Victoria Harbour to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. 06FEB19 SCMP / Martin Chan

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Visitors wait for stores in the Citygate Outlets complex in Tung Chung to open. Photo: Rachel Leung

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Regina Ip holds Wednesday’s omen after the ceremony. Photo: Dickson Lee

The chairman of the Heung Yee-kuk, Kenneth Lau Yip-keung has picked the fortune stick number 86 for Hong Kong during the annual Lunar New Year ritual at Che Kung temple in Sha Tin. 06FEB19 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Vice chairman of Sha Tin Rural Committee Lee Che-kee ( Left) and Heung Yee Kuk chairman Kenneth Lau Yip-keung (Right) take part in fortune stick drawing ceremony at Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin. 06FEB19 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Worshippers pack Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin to pray for good luck and prosperity in the Year of the Pig on the second day of Lunar New Year. 06FEB19 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Expedia's Feng Shui travel guide tells you where to go in the Year of the Pig

If your are trying to think of a place to visit that will bring your luck over the next 12 months, then feng shui may just have the answer that suits your Chinese zodiac sign. Images: Expedia

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Hongkongers treated to a performance extravaganza in the annual Lunar New Year night parade

Performers at the Cathay Pacific International Lunar New Year night parade. Photo: Edmond So

Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade.   05FEB19 SCMP/ Edmond So

News

Hong Kong

Society

Visitors mostly enjoyed a clear view of the stunning 23-minute show
Wednesday was the hottest second day of the new lunar year since records began


The weather was much kinder than the forecasters had predicted, and fog and drizzle held off so visitors mostly enjoyed a clear view of the 23-minute show.


Year of the Pig

Hong Kong weather

Tourism

Chinese tourists

Hong Kong’s HK$10 million Lunar New Year fireworks display dazzles despite forecast for foggy weather

Visitors mostly enjoyed a clear view of the stunning 23-minute show Wednesday was the hottest second day of the new lunar year since records began

Visitors mostly enjoyed a clear view of the stunning 23-minute show

Wednesday was the hottest second day of the new lunar year since records began