As the three-day Lunar New Year holiday wrapped up, many Hong Kong residents returned from abroad, recounting festive celebrations in Taiwan, South Korea, Chongqing and Fujian that felt livelier than at home.
At the arrival hall in the Hong Kong International Airport this afternoon, many travelers began returning to the city. Hung said her family of three has traveled to Taiwan for six days, costing nearly HK$20,000.
“We rented a car, which was quite expensive. But flight and accommodation costs were cheaper than during Easter,” she said.
She added that many small shops in Taiwan were closed from the first to the third day of the Lunar New Year, so they mainly visited attractions such as Taipei 101 and parks. “On the first day of the Lunar New Year, we saw locals setting off fireworks near our hotel. It felt really joyful,” she said.
Chu and his family of three took a seven-day South Korea tour for about HK$20,000, noting crowds of Hongkongers everywhere and a vibrant festive mood.
He found Hong Kong comparatively dull and was glad to take his six-year-old daughter to Lotte World.
Tong and his wife participated in a six-day tour to Chongqing for about HK$20,000. “It’s more expensive than other seasons, but we thought it was worth it,” he said.
He added that mainland cities are very lively during festivals and believed this was a special experience: “It was really crowded, but it was something to experience.”
Some returned to hometowns for family visits. Chan and his wife spent three days in Fujian to save annual leave for future overseas trips, enjoying local noodles and wontons with relatives.
He described Fujian as more spacious with permitted fireworks, drawing on his own experience lighting small ones.
