In Chinese culture, rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity – and the Lunar New Year, with the first day falling on Sunday, 22 January, is the most important festival on the calendar. It is with special delight that The Peninsula Hong Kong welcomes guests to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit with a collection of festive activities, dining and spa offers, and exceptional stay experiences to greet the new year in Peninsula style.
A Graceful Bloom of Peonies
In homage to one of the most historically prized flowers, The Peninsula Hong Kong presents a blossoming floral art installation at The Verandah foyer on the first floor of the hotel. Inspired by peony’s beauty and its wide varieties, the artisanal display comprises 38 ceramic peony sculptures, each with unique shape, colour and nuance, meticulously handcrafted by Hong Kong ceramic artist Leo Wong. Artfully set on a golden backdrop, the ceramic peonies are complemented by lively hand-painted flora and fauna.
For centuries, peonies were revered by many emperors and other luminaries, who grew them in their palaces for decoration – and the flowers are synonymous with abundance and prosperity, offering a graceful and immersive visual spectacle.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Leo Wong is a ceramicist and landscape designer. Having discovered his passion for ceramic art with over ten years of experience, Leo pays tribute to botany by creating life-like floral-inspired sculptures. His artworks attach great importance to the expression of vitality, capturing the moment of life in nature and preserving the fleeting state of flowers with ceramics.
Dazzling Lion and Dragon Dances
Guests at The Peninsula Hong Kong are invited to kick off the Lunar New Year with one of the most spectacular lion and dragon dance performances in the city. As a nod to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited’s Chinese roots and the location of its flagship property, it has become customary for a lion and dragon dance to be performed at the openings of other Peninsula properties around the world.
The troupe of nine lions and one dragon will include three exclusive Peninsula red and gold lions, featuring the depiction of the Chinese character of the hotel’s name on the back of the creatures’ heads and begin on the morning of 22 January 2023 at the hotel forecourt and lobby (subject to social distancing measures).
Gourmet New Year Hampers and Artisanal Treats
Guests can share the joy of the holiday deliciously with a line-up of tempting goodies, puddings, and condiments created by Chinese Cuisine Executive Chef Lam Yuk Ming and his culinary team at the Michelin-starred Spring Moon restaurant. Presented in gourmet hampers and gift boxes, these delicacies make the perfect gifts for heart-warming reunions with loved ones or for honouring esteemed colleagues.
Inspired by the Art Deco-style interiors of Spring Moon, the Divine Treasures Hamper (HK$ 3,688) features an elegant stained-glass window design and tea-accessory motifs. Its multi-tiered compartments are filled with gourmet celebratory treats such as Red Date Pudding, 30-head dried abalone, homemade XO Chilli Sauce, 18-head fish maw, Hokkaido conpoy, aged Yunnan Pu Er tea, and more.
Spring Moon is presenting its coveted New Year Puddings in delectable traditional flavours, including the classic Red Date Pudding (HK$ 418) – a favourite among hotel patrons for over a decade, and a recipe once favoured by the Qing Dynasty’s Imperial consorts, Turnip (HK$ 418), Taro (HK$ 398), Water Chestnut (HK$ 398) and New Year pudding (HK$ 398) for sharing with family and friends.
Guests can also savour a selection of Spring Moon’s exclusive tangy, aromatic, and delicious condiments, all homemade from the Michelin-starred culinary team’s secret recipes. This year’s offerings, including Sichuan Chilli Sauce (HK$ 338), Chiu Chow Chilli Sauce (HK$ 238), and XO Chilli Sauce (HK$ 380), let recipients elevate the flavours of their dishes at home. The Sichuan Chilli Sauce is faithful to an authentic Sichuanese recipe that incorporates Da Hong Pao Sichuan pepper, nutmeg, and Japanese Sakura shrimp. The Chiu Chow Chilli Sauce, meanwhile, comprises a deeply umami blend of chilli peppers, spices and salted fish. Both sauces are freshly made by hand in house at The Peninsula Hong Kong.
A special “XO Elixir” cocktail (HK$ 188*) curated by Head Mixologist Francois Cavelier, inspired by Spring Moon’s coveted XO Chilli Sauce with fruit and cognac spirits, will also be available at The Bar to pay tribute to this flavour.
Festive Feasts at Spring Moon
During the Lunar New Year, guests can enjoy Michelin-starred Poon Choi at Spring Moon. A traditional Lunar New Year speciality, Poon Choi signifies abundance for the year ahead. The dish, a bountiful arrangement of ingredients including abalone, fish maw, mushrooms, and dried scallops, is meant to be shared. It can be served in a porcelain pot (HK$ 2,388* for two and HK$ 4,688* for four) or in a STAUB pot (HK$ 5,688* for four and HK$ 9,988* for eight). Another popular Chinese New Year dish is Lo Hei (HK $1,280*), featuring chilled kanpachi slices with caviar, crab roe, cucumber, taro, and more; also meant for sharing, it symbolises good fortune and togetherness.
Diners can also opt to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with one of Spring Moon’s enticing set menus – “Fortune” (HK$8,688*), “Wealth” (HK$10,980*) or “Longevity” (HK$ 12,680*). Ideal for family gatherings, these menus offer selections of favourites for parties of six or more.
For those who prefer to dine at home, guests may also order from “PenFare at Home”, offering a selection of enticing takeaway dishes created by the hotel’s acclaimed culinary team. The offerings will also include a decadent Chinese New Year dessert – “Great Treasures” Cheesecake – that makes a perfect sweet treat for your gathering.
Preserving Tradition – Spring Moon Pig’s Trotters
In Chinese culture, it is a tradition for new parents to distribute vinegar-preserved pig’s trotters with red eggs to relatives and close friends to herald the arrival of their new-born child. In honour of the new year, Spring Moon’s Michelin-starred culinary team has recreated this special auspicious dish using the finest ingredients including pig trotters from Japan and three types of vinegar (sweet, white, and black glutinous rice vinegar) to create a perfectly balanced preparation.
“Auspicious Blossom” Stay Offer
Celebrate new beginnings and revel in the Year of the Rabbit with the “Auspicious Blossom” Chinese New Year stay offer at The Peninsula Hong Kong. Usher in the New Year on a positive note with an elegant stay experience featuring luxurious accommodation, Chinese New Year cultural workshops and Peak Tram journey, in addition to daily breakfast and an exclusive Peninsula door gods red lacquer soap box.
Starting from HK$ 3,880*, the “Auspicious Blossom” stay offer features the following benefits:
- Daily Peninsula set breakfast for two at The Lobby
- A Peninsula door gods red lacquer soap box
- Round-trip Peak Tram tickets and admission tickets to Sky Terrace 428 for two
- Select one of the Chinese New Year workshops:
- Chinese auspicious knot workshop
- Chinese paper cutting workshop
- Chinese calligraphy workshop
- Ceramic flowers making class (suite guests only)
- China Clipper Tour
- Flight Simulator
- HK$ 2,000 hotel dining credits per suite at hotel restaurants (except Imasa, The Peninsula Boutique & Café, and catering services) (suite guests only)
- One-way limousine transfer (suite guests only)
Booking Period: From now to 15 January 2023 inclusive
Stay Period: From 22 to 28 January 2023 inclusive
Chinese New Year Rejuvenation at The Peninsula Spa
From now until 31 January 2023, guests who book a 90-minute Holistic Body Massage will be entitled to a complimentary 30-minute Organic Hydrating Body Scrub Treatment or a 30-minute Self-discovery Mini Facial (priced at HK$ 2,280* on weekdays and HK$ 2,480* on weekends). Guests who purchase any Margy’s products at HK$ 2,000 or more will enjoy a complimentary travel size Brightening Mask and Extra Rich Firming Mask.
During this festive season, The Peninsula Spa is also delighted to present the exclusive Margy’s Plasma High Technology treatments – a series of non-invasive anti-aging beauty treatments using cold plasma energy to promote skin tightening and rejuvenation with instant results, including Plasma Revive Express Facial (HK$ 1,980*), Plasma Revitalising Facial (HK$ 3,500*) or Plasma Botolift Facial (HK$ 4,800*).
For reservations or more information, please contact The Peninsula Spa at +852 2696 6682