Flower markets are a colourful must-visit attraction at Chinese New Year! Beautiful flowers, delicate potted plants and young trees are said to bring different kinds of good fortune. Kumquat trees, narcissus and peonies bring prosperity. Peach blossoms add fire to romance, while tangerine plants with leaves intact help ensure long-lasting relationships and "fruitful" marriages. Mingle with the huge, happy crowds and enliven your senses for the Year of the Dog!
Dates : Monday 23 January - Saturday 28 January
Times : Noon - midnight; and 28 January until the early hours of the next day
Venues : 14 parks and playgrounds all over Hong Kong including Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island and Fa Hui Park, Mong Kok, Kowloon
Best time to visit : 6pm - 9pm
Admission : Free
Transportation : For Victoria Park, use Causeway Bay MTR Exit E, then walk along Great George Street to the park; or Tin Hau MTR Exit A2, turn left after leaving the exit.
For Fa Hui Park, use Prince Edward MTR Exit A, walk north along Nathan Road, then turn right onto Boundary Street and walk for about five minutes. The park is on the left before the railway bridge.
I have been to both markets: Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park. I use the term human "conveyor-belt" to describe the experience especially on the New Year's Eve. You simply don't have to walk; people will push you and carry you through. A normal 30 minutes walk will become an hour or more, and you don't have a choice where to go, because the flow has been pre-arranged. And, it will be too late when you spot something you want to buy, because the human flow will stream you away. Don't worry too much about robbery, because there is no way for robber to flee away. Do worry about thievery, and don't carry too much cash around, and take good care of mobile phones which are equivalent to cash these days.
The Dilemma
I would suggest you to visit the markets before the New Year's Eve and avoid the them that day, at all costs, because it's not a pleasant situation to be in. A catch, however...
One of the reasons why people love to crowd these flower markets, right before the Chinese New Year, is due to the fact that the prices of goods (flowers and other stuff) drop substantially after mid-night.
Why? Chinese merchants don't want to withhold the "old" goods from last year, and they are willing to cut prices to get rid of the goods. It's partly business and partly "Feng Shui".
My grandparents were farmers and I used to sell flowers for them when I was ... younger ;) My experience told me: some New Year plants could be selling for $400, and the same plants would be selling as low as $50 after mid-night. If you want to be a cheap skate, this is the time ;), or ...
Wanna learn and experience some Chinese New Year culture? Do visit these markets on the New Year's Eve. It's quite an experience.
I have not been to these markets for quite some time, 7 years at least.
For this year, I might consider going...
Why?
To take some "unreal" photos, for URHK.
Happy New Year, in advance, in two weeks' time. :)
Here are some of the photos I have taken previously in the Fai Hui Market:
Enjoy!
