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