For those who celebrate, Happy Chinese Lunar New Year! Wishing you a healthy and prosperous Year of the Sheep.

On any given day, the public market at Tsuen Wan is buzzing with activity, but it is especially busy leading up to the New Year celebrations. This is the most important holiday in Hong Kong, and is steeped in tradition. On New Year’s Eve, everyone is making last minute preparations for the multi-day feasting, and there are lots of bargains to be had as vendors try clear their stocks before the holiday break. If you’re curious about the traditions of this two week long celebration, head over to blogger BlueBalu’s post for a great roundup.

The focal point of the marketplace is the Yeung Uk Road Market, a multi-storey building that houses the local wet market. Typical of Hong Kong, each floor specializes in specific foods: you’ll find the freshest seafood on the ground floor, meat and poultry on the second floor, followed by fruits, vegetables, and dry goods on the third. Around the building, streets and narrow alleyways are packed with shops brimming with fresh produce and meats. The traffic and crowds are crazy!

Nearby, a sports stadium has been converted to a flower market where you can buy fresh flowers for the New Year, a popular tradition. Everywhere you’ll see shoppers walking around with flowers in hand – orchids are a perennial favourite.

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