Holidaying in the City that Never Sleeps

If you've never been to Hong Kong for the holidays, you are missing out on a whole lot. Nestled in the Pearl River delta on the southern tip of industrial China, Hong Kong is one of the most vibrant cities on earth, literally one that never sleeps. You'd never guess how the megacity transforms into a dizzying swirl of color and lights at night, especially during the holidays.

Christmas time here doesn't translate to Christ's birth, since Hong Kong isn't a predominantly Christian place. Walk through the bustling streets on any given night, especially during those leading up to the New Year, and you'll literally find yourself amid a swathe of some of the happiest people on earth, you could imagine! It seems that the city only starts to wake up at night, and with the glittering frenzy of neon lights as the effervescent backdrop, you'll see a lot of merrymakers donning Santa caps with fiber glass lights on the tip, their children in hand decked out in the cutest angel or devil costumes, and street vendors eagerly selling flashing pins, glittering headbands, glowsticks, Santa caps, or angel wings. The holidays transforms Hong Kong into a huge party, and here you'll see the non-Christian appeal of Christmas, a giant celebration where the entire city seems to come together in the spirit of holiday cheer. There's no snow here, but in the chilly December air of Hong Kong, you'll get to celebrate the holidays in Asian flair.

From the latter part of November 2006 to January 1, 2007, Hong Kong celebrates its annual Winterfest, which is how the locals here celebrate Christmas. During this occasion, Downtown Hong Kong is transformed into a Christmas Eden, with a spectacular Christmas tree that could be seen all the way across the harbor. In Central, you'd find Santa's Town, which is a replica village that looked like it came right out of the North Pole, or some dressed up township in Scandinavia. It's a picturesque attraction that's a surefire hit for the whole family. Free outdoor concerts feature especially during the weekends, and Christmas carols waft through the air. You can choose to make a Christmas wish by the tree or simply explore Hong Kong further. And it certainly brings a twist to the word "fusion" when you sit down for a steaming bowl of Chinese noodles in the chilly air of the town plaza that's an anachronistic replica of Santa's village in the North Pole! At night, the music doesn't die down. Instead, the volume cranks up, the lights go on, and the celebration takes away in full blast! You would also love to hit the Christmas sales that take over rows of roadside boutiques and shopping malls!

But on the other side of the world, unlike the West, the biggest celebration in Hong Kong is Chinese New Year. Sure, there are the annual New Year's Eve countdowns on the eve of January 1st, but the partying pales in comparison to that of Chinese New Year, which isn't very far away either. Following the traditional Lunar Calendar, Chinese will usher in the Year of the Pig on February 18, 2007. There's the Chinese New Year Parade that is just spectacular. Decorated floats snake through the city, with dancers decked out in multicolored costumes, showing the multicultural melting pot that is Hong Kong. Of course, there's also the traditional Lion Dance and Dragon Dance with the accompanying barrage of gongs and drums, a distinctly Eastern spectacle done during the New Year to drive away evil spirits and welcome a good new year.

All this is done with the spectacular Hong Kong skyline as the backdrop. There's also a fireworks display, capping out a perfectly picturesque celebration on the world-famous postcard shot of Hong Kong Harbor. But the celebration doesn't end with the spectacle. Chinese people love to eat, and the cuisine of Hong Kong is world-famous. What better time to feast on the best of Cantonese specialties and Chinese culinary prowess than on the biggest celebration of the year? Almost all restaurants will offer special deals and menu items for the New Year. Of course, a little shopping that Hong Kong is notorious for wouldn't hurt either.

There's no snow here, but Hong Kong is one place that truly knows how to celebrate the holidays. The festive mood permeates the entire city inside out, and Hong Kong is transformed into one giant party, the biggest in the world. It's the city that never sleeps.