In the Far East side of things, Christmas is just as important as it is in Europe and North America. Hong Kong is a great place to celebrate the holidays – from food to lights and everything in between, there are plenty of ways to get into the holiday spirit! Though not mainly observed for religious reasons, Christmas still is a big holiday when you’re in Hong Kong.
In this blog, we will explore some of the best ways to celebrate Christmas in Hong Kong, and how you can take advantage of the season if you’re spending the holidays here.
How do Residents in Hong Kong Celebrate Christmas?
It’s time to celebrate the holiday season and have fun after a busy year. If you’re planning on having a fun Christmas this year, then Hong Kong is the place to go. This city is known for its unique Christmas traditions and it will provide you with the best possible experience. If you’re looking for a place where you can spend your Christmas, then Hong Kong is the place for you.
In Hong Kong, Santa Claus is referred to as Father Christmas. The city observes a two-day public holiday to celebrate the festival. The first day following the holiday is also a public holiday. Every year, a Winterfest is held during this period.
Christmas in Hong Kong is a time for people to have fun and celebrate without worrying about the new year. It is a traditional destination that offers a lot of activities such as sledding and dancing. If you are from the West, you should not be surprised if you don’t see snow in the city. By the time you get back to Hong Kong, you will have learned how to celebrate Christmas without actually spending time in the cold weather and snow.
Hong Kong is known for its festive Christmas celebrations. The city’s residents celebrate the holiday in a very eloquent manner. The weather in the city is perfect for the festivities. It’s also one of the best times to visit Hong Kong.
The city is full of fireworks and Christmas lights as the festive spirit of the season is displayed in all areas of the city. If you’re a fan of food, then Hong Kong is the place for you. During the holiday season, you can enjoy a variety of delicious food options.
One of the traditional dishes that you should try during this time is the Wind Sand Chicken. Since the locals are very friendly, you should not hesitate to visit any of the restaurants and hotels in the city to have your favorite dish. After a day of fun, try some of the local massage services in Hong Kong. These establishments will allow you to relax and enjoy the traditional way of life.
If you’re wondering what some of the beloved Christmas traditions in Hong Kong are, here are a few of them:
1. Attend Winterfest
Hong Kong’s Winterfest is an annual holiday event that takes place in the city’s Statue Square. This year’s event features a massive Christmas tree, a Santa’s grotto, and a choir singing Christmas songs. It runs from December 1 to January 2, and it features a fireworks display to welcome the New Year.
2. Theme Park and Museum Displays
Both Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland decorate their halls with lights, fake snow, and trees, and expect Santa to make an appearance. While Ocean Park is the go-to place for Hong Kong locals, Disneyland is the place to be during the holiday season. The Main Street of the park is adorned with Christmas lights, and Mickey and his friends participate in holiday parades.
The holiday season is also celebrated at the wax museum of London’s famous attraction, which is called Madame Tussauds. This place displays a tip-top Christmas display. Inside, you’ll find Santa’s helpers giving out gifts.
3. Eat Christmas Dinner at The Peninsula
If you’re planning on visiting Hong Kong over the holidays, you might not be able to prepare a Thanksgiving feast for yourself. Fortunately, there are plenty of restaurants and hotels that provide a variety of holiday meals. At The Peninsula, you’ll be able to enjoy a life-sized Christmas tree inside its The Lobby restaurant.
The Lobby offers a variety of Christmas activities, including a full-course dinner and a Christmas afternoon tea. Guests can also choose to enjoy a dinner buffet at the hotel’s restaurant, which features Asian and American dishes.
4. Go Christmas Shopping
In Hong Kong, you can find plenty to see and do while shopping at independent stores and local crafts. The Mongkok area is known for its vibrant street markets, where you’ll find high-fashion knockoffs and toys, as well as various kinds of shoes and clothes. The crowds of people and the independent stalls draw in family members to relieve boredom.
Where to Have your Christmas Shopping in Hong Kong
Christmas is a well-loved holiday all over the world, especially in Hong Kong. As you may know, residents here live a very fast lifestyle. Thus, this time of the year, though just as busy (or more so), is also a good chanceto take a break, unwind, spend some bonding moments with family and friends, and do some Christmas shopping – perhaps, buy a Christmas tree and gifts for the kids and the elders. Here are some of the top shopping areas where you can go to this Christmas season:
Times Square
The two towers of Times Square are composed of over 83,613 square meters of retail space and over 90,000 square meters of office space. Some of the prominent designers that have their own stores in this area include Charles Jourdan, Kooka, Max Mara, Anna Sui, and Vivienne Tam.
Try browsing through the offerings at the various department stores, such as Marks & Spencer and Lane Crawford. You can also find great gifts at Montblanc or Links of London. For a treat, try a scoop of ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s or a local restaurant such as Water Margin.
Stanley Market
The Stanley Market is still worth a trip even though it has become a bit touristy. Most of the stalls are open from 10 am to 5 pm, and you’ll find a wide variety of goods, including ceramics, clothes, and Chinese knick-knacks. The area is close to the water, and there are numerous seafood restaurants.
Although the market is bustling on a daily basis, Sundays are typically very crowded. Fortunately, there are several good restaurants in the area that allow you to spend the entire day eating and shopping.
Festival Walk
Due to the increasing number of malls in Hong Kong, the list of extras varies widely. While the store directory may be similar across different malls, the extras vary significantly. One of the most prominent features of Festival Walk is an 11-screen cinema.
Festival Walk is a large shopping center that features over 200 stores, such as Christian Dior, Hugo Boss, Timberland, Aquascutum, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Levi’s, and Marks & Spencer. It is located in the city of Kowloon Tong.
Ladies Market
The market located on three blocks of Tung Choi Street is an epitome of Asia’s market culture. It features over a hundred stalls and is noisy and full of activity. Unlike its name suggests, this market doesn’t sell only shoes and clothes. It also offers various travel souvenirs such as T-shirts with the “I Love Hong Kong” slogan.
The market, which is officially licensed by the government, is still set up in its original form even though it’s been running for over 30 years. The best time to visit this market is after 7 pm when the merchants and tourists are at their optimal size.
Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium
This store has a large selection of Oriental products, such as clothing, jewelry, and medical equipment. It’s a great stop for souvenir shopping. The prices are reasonable, and the staff is always willing to help you find something that’s just right.
If a person you’re dealing with has a hard time understanding English, you might find someone who can speak it. This section has a lot of items that can be used as stocking fillers or small gifts for distant relatives or colleagues.
Shanghai Tang
Getting a tailor-made Chinese tunic suit or qipao in Hong Kong can be a treat, but it usually takes a week or more. If you’re in the market for something a bit different, Shanghai Tang is a must-visit for Chinese formal wear. Founded in Hong Kong, the company is regarded as one of the most prominent Chinese fashion houses.
Shanghai Tang’s garments are modern, and some of them feature belts and suits made from exotic materials such as moleskin. The brand also produces various accessories, such as purses and scarves. The classic details of its clothes are still intact, such as the stand-up collar and the intricate cuts.
Shanghai Tang has six outlets in Hong Kong’s central business district. One of these is in Salisbury Road.
Lane Crawford
The story of Lane Crawford starts in 1850, when the store first started offering high-quality products. It continues to have it all, with a wide selection of men’s, women’s, and children’s wear, as well as jewelry and home furnishings.
The staff at Lane Crawford are very friendly and knowledgeable. The prices are high in Hong Kong, but this is not surprising. The quality of the products is always excellent. This is a great place to buy from for Christmas.
Temple Street Night Market
This street is typical of Chinese culture. It’s lined with stalls selling various trinkets and other products, and it’s surrounded by a temple gateway. There are also several opera enthusiasts singing in public and a couple of fortune tellers who look like they’re ready to give you a prediction.
This tourist hot spot is located near the Yau Ma Tai subway station. It offers an atmospheric and cinematic setting for your souvenir shopping, and it has a wide range of products such as T-shirts, watches, electronics, and teaware. Unfortunately, many of these products are not real.
The name of the market comes from Tin Hau Temple, which is located in the middle of the strip. Hawkers start emerging around sunset. The best time to go is between 8 and 10 pm.
Western Market
Due to the increasing number of modern buildings in Hong Kong, many of the city’s historic structures have been demolished. This is why Western Market stands out from the rest. It’s located in a building constructed in 1906, which is a real contrast to the surrounding skyscrapers. The first floor of the building is known as the “cloth alley,” where you’ll find a variety of vendors selling various types of fabrics.
This shop features Chinese crafts that are made from various materials. This is a great place to find great bargains. The restaurant upstairs, The Treasure Inn, is also a great spot for lunch.
IFC Mall
Hong Kong is a shopper’s paradise. There are plenty of great malls and outlets, as well as numerous boutique locations. The main area of the city, which is known for its shopping, is called IFC. There, you’ll find a variety of designer stores, such as A&X Armani Exchange, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Kate Spade, and Escada.
There are a variety of dining options in Hong Kong, including Isola, Lei Garden, Pret-A-Manger, and Inagiku. The Apple store is one of the city’s most popular attractions, and it’s surrounded by shops and restaurants that are also popular.
Top Christmas Events You Shouldn’t Miss in Hong Kong
1. Creative workshops LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Date: through 2 January 2023
Venue: Shop B131-133 B1, K11 MUSEA Victoria Dockside, TST
To celebrate the holiday season, the Hong Kong branch of the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre has prepared a series of fun and festive activities for children and adults. Through its various attractions, such as the Miniland, you can meet Santa Claus and his crew as they are hiding in different corners. You can also explore the area and participate in the “LEGO Santa Clauses Hide and Seek” game.
To celebrate the holiday season, the Hong Kong branch of the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre has prepared a series of fun and festive activities for children and adults. To encourage people to participate in the activities, the center has launched a campaign on social media. Through the use of the campaign hashtags #ChristmasBricktacular and #LEGODiscoveryCenterHK, you can share a photo of yourself with the campaign and receive a complimentary gift.
The Christmas Creative Workshop is also a great opportunity for adults and children to learn new building skills. During this session, participants can create limited-time Christmas reindeers and elves.
2. Citywalk’s ‘Merry Christmas! Goodbye Plastic!’
Date: 25 November 2022 – 2 January 2023
Time: 10am- 10pm
Venue: Event Hall @ Citywalk, 1 Yeung Uk Rd, Tsuen Wan
The event will feature educational games and experiences that are designed to raise awareness about environmental protection, as well as an exhibition showcasing the various activities that can be done with the help of recycled materials. There will also be a variety of activities that allow children to get active and learn more about the environment.
Kids can enjoy a fun-filled adventure on a glacier slide that features plastic waves, and they can try out ice fishing and take a walk on the floating ice. In addition, there will be workshops that teach them how to improve their cycling skills. The Polar Shopping Village at Ocean Park will also have a variety of penguin-themed gifts for sale.
3. Celebrating Christmas in Hong Kong with Lumations
Date: 10-25 December 2022
Time: 12-9pm
Venue: PMQ Courtyard, 35 Aberdeen Street
The PMQs Christmas boulevard will be filled with festive atmosphere as you enjoy pastries and refreshments. You can also buy Christmas decorations from Lumations. All proceeds will benefit a local charity that helps refugees.
4. Robin Hood, The Panto
Dates: Thurs 1 Dec – 11 Dec 2022
Venue: Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre
Join Robin Hood and his Merry Men as they try to put an end to corruption and greed. They sing and dance their way through this panto, which is presented by the Hong Kong Players for the 61st year in a row.
5. Santa’s Adventure Cruises on the Aqualuna
Date: Month of December 2022
Venue: Departs from Central Pier 9
Join Santa Claus aboard the aqualuna for a fun-filled 60 minutes filled with holiday songs, treats, hot chocolate, and a candy cane hunt. Children will also get to meet the jolly old man himself.
6. Gingerbread for Good
Date: 28 November 2022 – 2 January 2023
Venue: Shop 350, 3/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central
The holiday season is about to get started with the launch of the Gingerbread for Good campaign, which is a collaboration between LANDMARK and celebrity chefs. Through this campaign, they hope to create a wider movement that will benefit those in need.
The goal of the pop-up is to raise HKD 600,000 for the two organizations that are supported by the company: Box of Hope, which provides support to individuals with disabilities, and the Vocational Training Council’s Shine Skills Centre, which provides internship opportunities to students.
7. Lee Tung Avenue
This festive season, head to Lee Tung Avenue in Wanchai to catch a glimpse of the Giant disco ball, which measures 7 meters in diameter. It will be transformed into a dance party area with a professional stage and sparkling sequins. The event will be held from November 17 to 27. A lighting ceremony will be held on November 17 at 6pm. The party will feature live DJ performances and dance performances.
On Christmas Day, a party will be held at the Central Piazza from 7pm to 9pm. It will feature live DJ performances and dance performances.
8. Hong Kong Disneyland “A Disney Christmas”
Date: Until 2 January 2023
Venue: Hong Kong Disneyland
The Disney Live in Concert series will feature jazz and classical music performances. During the holiday season, Mickey and friends will be performing various Christmas shows such as “A Holiday Wishes-Come-True Tree Lighting” and “Santa’s Magical Snowfall.” If you can’t make it to these weekends, don’t worry as these shows will still be happening. Tickets are available at the box office or online.
9. The Cecilian Singers Choir Concert
Dates: 28 Nov 2022 at St. John’s Cathedral
2 December 2022 at St Stephens Chapel
5 December 2022 Kowloon Junior Church
The Cecilians have entertained audiences in Hong Kong for 60 years. To celebrate their 60th anniversary, they are presenting their annual Christmas season concert, “Hallelujah Noel!” in aid of the Love 21 Foundation. Tickets for the event at St. Stephen’s have already sold out, but they can still be purchased at the other two venues.
The event was organized in proud support of the Love 21 Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering the autistic and Down syndrome community in Hong Kong through various programs and activities.
10. The Nutcracker
Dates: With live accompaniment – 16,21-23 December 2022 at 7:30pm; 17-18 and 24-26 December, 2:30 and 7:30pm
With recorded music 28-30 December at 7:30pm; 31 December 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Price: HKD$180; $320; $480; $680; $1,000, $1,200
The holiday spirit will soar with The Nutcracker. This delightful musical adventure features a tale of love and adventure as Clara and her magical nutcracker battle the evil Rat King. Accompanied by the signature choreography of Webre, this nostalgic show is a must-see for anyone who enjoys history, culture, and Hong Kong traditions.
11. TEDxTinHauWomen
Date: 1 December 2022, 1:00pm – 7:00pm
Venue: Xiqu Theatre in Western Kowloon.
Cost: Tickets cost $600
The event, which is held every year in Hong Kong, is focused on inspiring and uplifting women. This year’s theme is “In Bloom.” The program will feature talks from speakers who are passionate about sharing their ideas and experiences with others.
Video: Hong Kong’s top five Christmas displays
In this video, we see Hong Kong’s most spectacular Christmas lights for the 2019 season. The video is shot in high quality and is perfect for anyone who enjoys a good Christmas display. Watch as we see a variety of lights dancing across the sky, with Santa Claus riding on his sleigh. This is an excellent way to get into the holiday spirit!
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Does Hong Kong have Christmas holidays?
Hong Kong’s Christmas Day is the central event of the season, and WinterFest is the biggest event for everyone.
2. Is Christmas a big thing in Hong Kong?
In December, Hong Kong is known for its festive atmosphere and is regarded as one of the best places to visit during the holiday season. A two-day public holiday is also celebrated in the city.
3. How long does Christmas last in Hong Kong?
Although Christmas Day is only observed on December 25, the season continues until January 6 when the New Year arrives.
4. How do Hong Kong people celebrate Christmas?
Christmas services are held in Chinese for Christians in Hong Kong. At the Anglican Cathedral, some of the services are held in English. This is because people from Hong Kong and European countries attend these services. It’s also worth noting that there are many Christian churches in the country, so the celebrations can be felt almost everywhere you visit here in Hong Kong.
5. Is Christmas in Hong Kong expensive?
This is an important question to ask since Hong Kong, even during out of season, is already a very expensive place. You can expect that Christmas would be expensive as well, especially if you have children and want to bring them out for the holidays. However, there are ways to save money during this season.
6. What are some tips to enjoy the holidays in Hong Kong, even on a budget?
If you’re looking to enjoy the holidays in Hong Kong on a budget, there are several tips that can help you do just that.
First, book your flights and accommodation in advance to get the best deals. Second, explore the city and take advantage of the free attractions and activities, such as the Avenue of Stars and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Third, hit up the street markets for souvenirs and snacks. Fourth, enjoy the local cuisine for a fraction of the price you would pay in a restaurant.
Finally, take public transportation or rent a bicycle to save money on transportation costs. If you are traveling to Hong Kong with children, it would be best to take advantage of the free activities that are available. You can visit museums, libraries and parks around the city. These places usually have special activities for kids during this season.
Final Thoughts
Celebrating Christmas in Hong Kong is an unforgettable experience! From the incredible Christmas lights and decorations to the tantalizing street food, there’s something magical and awe-inspiring about the city during the holiday season.
The festive atmosphere is palpable, and the locals are incredibly welcoming and friendly. Not to mention, you’ll find some of the best shopping deals in the world, so you can find the perfect gifts for your family and friends. Celebrating Christmas in Hong Kong is truly a unique and unforgettable experience!
We hope that this guide has given you a better understanding of how to celebrate Christmas in Hong Kong, and we wish you all the best!
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