Chinese New Year is about two things: showering family and friends with love and good luck, and setting the tone for the coming year. If you’re lucky enough to be in Hong Kong during this festive time of year, here are five things you shouldn’t skip on your to-do list:

Nature calls

With a cool climate and clear blue skies, Chinese New Year is the perfect time to enjoy Hong Kong’s best kept secret - the great outdoors. As quick as 20 minutes out of Central, you can find yourself in lush greenery like the Peak Morning Trail, pristine white-sand beaches like Chung Hom Kok or Tai Long Wan, or the incredible UNESCO Geopark.

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Head to laidback Lamma Island

Make a day trip to Lamma Island, starting from Yuen Shue Wan to explore the hippie-chic cafes and stores before stopping at Tin Hau Temple for a blessing. Then, take the gentle hike through jungle and beaches before enjoying a traditional cantonese seafood meal at the famous Rainbow Seafood restaurant - don’t forget to order lucky foods like fish and lobster for a prosperous new year.

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Explore Central

Central is often packed with the business crowd - but not during Chinese New Year. Take advantage and explore the best of Central, from bowls of delicious roast goose noodles at Yat Lok or world-famous egg tarts from Tai Cheong Bakery, to the towering street art murals around Tai Ping Shan Street.

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Indulge in a fancy CNY feast

Looking to celebrate CNY in style? Head to two of Hong Kong’s hippest restaurants that are redefining contemporary Cantonese cuisine - Mott 32 and Ho Lee Fook. Both dimly lit and designed to the nines, these are the best spots to bring your crew for cocktails and mind-blowingly good food.

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Go bar hopping

Chinese New Year may not be celebrated in the rowdy fashion that New Year’s Eve is, but that doesn’t mean you should skip the drinks altogether. Whether it’s quirky hidden speakeasies like Stockton or 001, or rooftop bar Sevva that boasts panoramic views of the city, it’s hard not to be impressed by Hong Kong’s bar scene.

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