| The New Year's parade in Hong Kong is an | | | | decked out in glittering lights for the |
| event not to be missed! The city is dressed | | | | holiday. Throughout the three-day |
| up with bright decorations and colorful | | | | celebration, dancers in colorful costumes |
| lights for its biggest celebration of the | | | | perform lion and dragon dances in the |
| year, and thousands pour into Hong Kong to | | | | streets, malls and hotel lobbies. |
| take part in the festivities. | | | | Traditionally, people exchange small, red |
| | | | envelopes filled with money as gifts. Flower |
| Winding along Hong Kong's picturesque | | | | markets show up all over the city during the |
| waterfront, the New Year's parade is filled | | | | holiday, selling plants and flowers with |
| with colorful, lavishly decorated floats. | | | | special significance, and stores and |
| Representatives from Hong Kong and countries | | | | restaurants display flowers meant to bring |
| all over the world sing, dance and play | | | | immortality and good luck. |
| music. The songs of marching bands fill the | | | | |
| air along the parade's route as performers in | | | | The New Year celebration usually begins |
| bright costumes prance along the streets. | | | | anywhere from January 21 to February 19, |
| | | | depending on the year. While the holiday |
| The forthcoming year (2006) is the Year of | | | | officially lasts fifteen days, in Hong Kong |
| the Dog. No matter which zodiac animal is | | | | it is celebrated for three days, with the New |
| being celebrated for the coming year, there | | | | Year's parade taking place on the first day. |
| are always plenty of lions and dragons in the | | | | January 29, 2006 is the first day of the |
| parade. Energetic dancers wearing giant lion | | | | forthcoming new year. |
| heads leap in the air as long dragons held | | | | |
| aloft by more than twenty people snake past | | | | The day after the New Year's parade a |
| the enthralled parade watchers. | | | | brilliant display of fireworks lights up Hong |
| | | | Kong's famous Victoria Harbour. The fireworks |
| The New Year's parade is the biggest event of | | | | can be viewed from the waterfront or from |
| Hong Kong's Lunar New Year celebration. Close | | | | boats cruising the harbour. On the third day |
| to 300,000 people attend the parade and | | | | of the celebration a large horse race takes |
| millions more watch it on television. In | | | | place at the Sha Tin racetrack. This lively |
| recent years the parade has taken place in | | | | race is a favorite for gamblers and |
| the evening, featuring vivid, dazzling light | | | | horseracing enthusiasts. |
| displays. | | | | |
| | | | It's no wonder why so many travel to discover |
| The Lunar New Year is one of Hong Kong's most | | | | all that Hong Kong has to offer, with the |
| important and well-loved holidays. Each year | | | | vibrant fusion of ancient customs and modern |
| one of twelve different animals is | | | | day fun at one of the world's biggest Chinese |
| celebrated, according to the Chinese zodiac. | | | | New Year celebrations. |
| Many of the city's towering skyscrapers are | | | | |