Hong Kong and Macau - New Years Eve In Hong Kong

I'm going to be in Hong Kong for three nights over New Years Eve; staying at the Ritz Carlton. I arrive on the 30th in the evening and depart on the 2nd; unfortunately I'll be solo as I'm not meeting up with my friends until I get to Thailand.

Looking for some ideas, other than just watching the fireworks at midnight. I'm well traveled and self-sufficient, so don't hesitate in recommending something that may entail public transportation, taxis, etc.

Thanks!

Are there fireworks on Dec 31? I thought they just had them on Chinese New Years. Which one did you mean?

edit to add: apparently they do have something on NYE. See below.

-David

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The one on 1 Jan mid night is kind of like "IFC 2 on fire" which is a copycat from Taipei 101

It's absolute nothing when compared with the Chinese new year one.

Are there fireworks on Dec 31?

I was told there are some fireworks on Dec. 31st. Is that incorrect?

I was told there are some fireworks on Dec. 31st. Is that incorrect?

My wife and I will be there for the first time too on Dec 31. Searched youtube and I now see why people think the firework on Dec 31 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4rnkXW3ItQ) is nothing compared to the one for chinese new year (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKeU8R8wMFw&feature=related). Still it's better than my hometown's firework.

it looked pretty nice in the youtube video even if it's not as opulent as Chinese NY fireworks.

-David

There are fireworks on the evening of Dec 31st! I thought it was a good show, even though it is kind of dull when you compare it to the Chinese New Year one :p . A few notes if you want to see the fireworks from my experience last year in HKG for NYE:

1) The roads in TST close to the harbour will be closed shortly after 11pm. If you are walking on Nathan Road and are trying to get to anywhere close to the clock tower / Avenue of the Stars, you will be cut off right before the Sheraton Hotel. If you need to get from one side of the harbor to the other, use the MTR. Avoid all other modes of transportation that evening due to road blocks. I don't think you can see the fireworks from the Hong Kong Island side of the harbour...

2) Hit up Lan Kwai Fong in Central after the fireworks via MTR. There will be A LOT OF PEOPLE, and police directing pedestrian traffic. The party goes until, well, pretty much the next morning! (I headed straight to a Cafe de Coral for breakfast before heading back to my hotel...)

3) MTR runs overnight on Dec 31st, again, making it your best bet to get around.

4) If you have the energy to do so, check out the area around the Harbour on the 30th, both on the Kowloon side and the Hong Kong side. The commercial buildings usually have quite a nice display of Christmas / New Year decorations and lights which I find pretty neat.

Have a great time in Hong Kong!