timblesworldtour

During the Chinese New Year festivities, the harbour of Hong Kong is the setting for a spectacular fireworks display said to be one of the best in the world. It’s designed to scare away demons and evil spirits, to make the coming year more prosperous – if I was a demon I’d be long gone!

Sadly the weather wasn’t as good as it could have been with low cloud and drizzle, but it didn’t dampen people’s spirits. We joined the other 330,000 people, lining both sides of the harbour, to watch. We found a spot near the conference centre on Hong Kong island.

The whole show lasted a full 25 minutes and lived up to it’s reputation. The fireworks are released from barges on the water and so fill the whole harbour with colour and noise. Most were arranged in groups, in a normal display there may be two or three of the same firework together, here there were twenty or more! This was full – on, merciless, full fat, high cholesterol fireworks from the start to end. No quiet bit in the middle, just WHAM! the whole way through.

Just when we thought we’d seen the best of the display, more would follow with appreciative gasps and cries from the crowd. It was certainly the most spectacuar fireworks display I’ve ever seen. If you ever get the chance to visit Hong Kong during New Year, don’t miss these fireworks. Better than any others, anywhere. Period.

We got some pictures, but in my book, unless you’re going to get really serious about it, cameras and fireworks just don’t work. As it was drizzling, it is unlikely anyone got decent shots. These pictures below really just don’t do the display justice at all.