I will be in Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year next year. Can anyone suggest where to stay to be close to all the action?

For New Year, really there is not much action. However it is a perfectly good time to go, if you do not want to shop. (stores closed for 2-3 days). There are the usual outings, but museums etc are also closed. The only "action" we found this year was a low-mediocre parade, some ion dances in hotel lobbies (not as bad as it sounds), and the huge fireworks. These are accessible from any downtown hotel - we stayed conveniently at BP House. Rates are actually low (excellent cut rates on asiatravelmart.com). Also two temples have good New Year ceremonies, go by subway. But most HK people are at home.

Chinese New Year is on February 1 next year. If we are there from January 30-February 2 will alot of the stores and museums be closed the entire time we are there? Are the markets also be closed?

lisa - chinese new year is the one holiday where hk shuts down. think of thanksgiving in the us, and you get the picture. <BR><BR>the day before cny, shops and museums tend to close early. chinese new year day, almost everything will be closed save for some restaurants. people spend time visiting family and relatives. <BR><BR>as ron mentioned, there is a parade and, on the second day, a major fireworks display (saw it this year -- very spectacular if you're into that sort of thing). things do start to re-open by the third day, but it's still pretty quiet.<BR><BR>for the fireworks, get a hotel room with a harbor view -- peninsula and regent are excellent. harbour plaza in hunghom is a little further away but with excellent views.

Yes, Ron & Deej are both right.<BR>There is action BEFORE Chinese New Year- the night "Flower Market" for people buying peach blossom trees and other things. Shops will be crowded with people buying new things (clothes, presents) for the new year. Buy yes, the first few days people usually stay home or go visit relatives, and many people go out of town too, so it's not the best time to visit. Like Ron said, temples would be "open"- many people go there for Chinese New Year to wish for luck for the new year, can get very crowded. Hope this helps!

I found a wonderful place to stay when I was in HK: The YMCA on Salisbury Road next to the Peninsula Hotel, across from the museums and down the street from the Star Ferry.<BR>ENJOY!

The Sheraton Kowloon is right next to the harbor, close to Star Ferry dock and the train station - and the shopping areas - but it's removed enough from some of the louder areas so that you won't be disturbed when you choose to sleep.

We stayed at the Sheraton during the Handover Ceremonies and had a wonderful view of everything that happened on the harbour.

We stayed at the Kowloon Shangri-la for the first part of our honeymoon last year and absolutely loved it. Great views of the harbour, wonderful service, amazing breakfast buffet - yes we did make it downstairs for breakfast;-), fantastic location and we thought that the idea of the rugs in the lifts to remind you what day of the week it was, was particularly original!