Many people in the West start making their New Year’s Eve plans at least a month ahead of the actual holiday to be certain they will ring in 2024 in a satisfying way. Along the same lines, preparations will be underway in Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China and many major U.S. cities well before Chinese New Year (a.k.a. The Spring Festival). This especially holds true for the “Year of the Dragon,” which starts Feb. 9, 2024, and unofficially continues for around two weeks.

The most famous event kicking off the holiday is the New Year’s Eve night parade starting around 8 p.m. in the Tsim Sha Tsui area near Victoria Harbour, which continues down the Golden Mile section of Nathan Road, Salisbury Road, Canton Road and Haiphong Road. Locals, including Virginia Chan, owner of food tour company Humid With a Chance of Fishballs, recommend grabbing a bite at Temple Street Night Market or Harbour City before claiming a spot around 6 p.m. along the route. Pre-parade street performances kick off around that time, and the epic fireworks display will follow.

Chan recommends attending the annual Chinese New Year races at Sha Tin Racecourse, which also incorporates cultural performances and musical entertainment. Beyond this and the high-profile parade and fireworks, she advises visitors also take the time to seek out more intimate observances enjoyed by the locals around town.

“Besides being a fine example of Chinese art and architecture always worth a visit, Wong Tai Sin comes alive on Chinese New Years’ Eve as thousands of people carrying incense come to make their first prayers of the New Year,” said Chan. “The Flower Market, which is open late and always worth a visit, is even more colorful than usual at this moment in time.

While the dragon symbolizes energy and prosperity, this year’s dragon is linked with the element of wood, thought to evoke growth and progress in the year ahead. Although Chinese New Year celebrations in Hong Kong have not been staged in recent years because of continued COVID-19 concerns, if the promise of this year’s “wood dragon” holds true, this city will once again be one of the best places to take in the holiday’s many rich traditions. Be sure to check sites such as discoverhongkong.com, chinahighlights.com and gocity.com/hong-kong/en-us to stay up to date.