(For Focus ISSUE -- Chinese New Year)
For S'pore and HK, it's time to entice visitors
The arrival of the Chinese New Year, which this year will be celebrated on Jan. 22, is the most important festival in the Chinese calender.
For the Chinese community around the world, the New Year, better known in Indonesia as Imlek, is a time for reaffirming family and kinship ties.
Many people also believe that the New Year is also a time for cleaning house, repaying debts, enjoying feasts, exchanging gifts and remembering ancestors.
The festival usually lasts for at least 15 days, until Yuen Sui, or the Feast of the Lanterns. The 12-year-cycle in the Chinese calender recognizes each of a dozen animals in the Chinese zodiac such as the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. 2004 is the Year of the Monkey.
The celebration is so important that many countries, particularly tourist destinations such as Singapore and Hong Kong, have for years taken advantage of the annual festivities as the main theme for tourism promotional campaigns. For the two city states, the New Year is a time to entice visitors.
For this purposes, the two countries have arranged a variety of attractions to entertain not only local residents but also foreign visitors.
To welcome the Year of Monkey, Singapore's Chinatown has, for example, been transformed into a colorful and magical playground for mischievous monkeys, with overarching peach trees lining the streets.
According to the office of the Singapore Tourism Board, the colorful street bazaar also promises to enthrall visitors to Chinatown with a delectable array of goodies like waxed duck, succulent barbecued sweet meats, assorted cookies and New Year accessories.
With over 400 street stalls, this is where the Chinese in Singapore congregate year after year to shop and soak in the festive atmosphere.
This annual Lunar New Year festivities in Chinatown promise to be the most exciting in its 20-year history. For the first time in more than 30 years, firecrackers will also be set off from the Garden Bridge along New Bridge Road in Chinatown.
On Jan. 21, the eve of the Lunar New Year, thousands of revelers are expected to join the countdown ceremony. Adding to the excitement of the evening are variety of performances such as a festive bazaar, carnival and stage shows.
As in Singapore, the Lunar New Year has become one of the most important tourist events in Hong Kong during which the city glows with colorful lights and festivities include an incredible fireworks display over Victoria Harbour, an international parade and all-night flower markets.
One of the greatest events is the Cathay Pacific International Parade. Unlike the previous events which were held in the evening, this year's parade, called one of the world's greatest parades, will take place at night on Jan. 22.
According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the parade will be joined by magnificently decorated and brightly lit floats from Hong Kong and around the world, multicultural performers and marching bands from Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the UK and the U.S., as well as local dragon and lion dancers.
On Friday, Jan. 23. there will be a fireworks display over the Victoria Harbour. This annual extravaganza attracts over 500,000 people to the waterfront with millions more watching on television.
For shopping lovers, visiting Hong Kong during the New Year festivities is even more enticing. Almost all major shopping centers offer special sales to welcome in the Chinese New Year. Pick up some new clothes and get the new year started off right. Gong Xi Fat Choi and Happy New Year!