Lunar New Year 2023 at Sha Tin

Belated Lunar New Year Greetings everyone. May this year bring you prosperity, accomplishments and contentment. During Lunar New Year last week, my family and I visited three places in Sha Tin to understand the new year customs of locals. Places we visited were Che Kung Temple, Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre, and Sha Tin Flower Market at Yuen Wo Playground. Observing new year decorations and goods, traditional crafts, and architectures was fascinating in foreigner's perspective. To document fascination, I captured each places in artistic compositions.

Che Kung Temple

Along with Wong Tai Sin Temple, Che Kung Temple is one of popular cultural destinations during Lunar New Year. Over the period, people come to worship Che Kung, a deified Sung Dynasty General. The temple is reputed for granting miraculously good luck to worshipers, so even non-Sha Tin residents come to worship. Worshipers offer Che Kung their burning incense sticks, food, fruits and oil at altars, turns brass windmills and make donations to the temple.

Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre

Though Christianity is irrelevant to Lunar New Year, my family and I visited the centre to explore Sha Tin. We’ve been always curious about the easily seen gigantic cross standing in the middle of a mountain in our neighborhood. So when people flock to temples, we visited the quiet centre instead.
Sha Tin is a holy neighborhood. Large number of religious institutions including temples, monastery and churches are located in the area. Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre is one of them. It sits at the peak of Tao Fong Mountain.

Architecture in Chinese style is a notable trait of the protestant centre. Unlike conventional churches built in western style, it is built in combination of Chinese and western style, resulting in frugal and unique fusion of the both cultures. I couldn’t fully grasp the purpose of the centre, as it was closed over Lunar New Year and our visit was too short. I wish I could visit there once again when it is opened.

Sha Tin Flower Market

Before Lunar New Year arrives, Chinese people cleans their homes and decorates their houses to bring in bright energy of spring. They decorate front doors by pasting red papers with auspicious phrase and buys orchids and mandarin trees for indoors. People flock to Flower Markets of their neighborhood to prepare for the annual ritual. Common plants in the markets are Orchid, Narcissus, Lilies, Peach Blossom, Gladiolus and Nipple fruit. Each one is distinctively charming and full of festive atmosphere. The largest flower market was held at Victoria Park. The larger the market, more types of plants are sold. I was disappointed that the market at Sha Tin was relatively small in scale, but observing various types of Orchid was compelling

For Lunar New Year on next year, I wish I could see the new year parade at TST, try pun choy and capture festive scenes.