Carnivals and lantern displays to celebrate Spring Lantern Festival
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    The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present three lantern carnivals in different parts of the territory between February 10 and 12 to celebrate the Spring Lantern Festival. Also, a spectacular lantern display entitled "Radiant Romance" is now on display at Kowloon Park. Admission is free.

     The lantern carnivals will be held on February 10 at Tuen Mun Park, on February 11 at Sai Kung Wan Man Road Playground, and on February 12 at Ko Shan Road Park and Ko Shan Theatre.

     At Ko Shan carnival, colourful lanterns featuring peony, peacock, golden fish and a seven-metre lantern are on display, while at Tuen Mun Park, lanterns depicting the legendary Four Beauties, lovely deer and panda will add colour to the carnival. A maze made up of peony lanterns is set up in Sai Kung carnival for the enjoyment of the public.

     Details of the three lantern carnivals are as follows:

1. New Territories West Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival
   February 10 (Friday), 7.30pm-10.30pm
   Tuen Mun Park
   Programmes: Chinese music, dance, magic, dragon and lion dance performances, golden oldies, Cantonese opera excerpts, lantern quiz, fortune-telling, nostalgic games and roving entertainment.

2. New Territories East Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival
   February 11 (Saturday), 6.30pm-9.30pm
   Sai Kung Wai Man Road Playground
   Programmes: Chinese music, dance, lion dance performance, golden oldies, variety show, lantern quiz, fortune-telling, nostalgic games and roving entertainment.

3. Urban Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival
   February 12 (Sunday), 7.30pm-10.30pm
   Ko Shan Road Park and Ko Shan Theatre
   Programmes: Chinese music, dance, magic, dragon and lion dance performances, golden oldies, Cantonese opera excerpts, lantern quiz, fortune-telling and roving entertainment.

     Running until February 26, the spectacular lantern display "Radiant Romance" also lights up Kowloon Park in this festive season.

     Greeting visitors at the main entrances at Haiphong Road and Austin Road are lanterns featuring the dragon, phoenix and flowers. Together with the flying bats (same pronunciation as "blessing" in Chinese) from the clouds, they wish us prosperity and peace in the coming year.

     At the fan-shaped pool, spectacular lantern display "Morning Flower and Evening Moon in One String" depicts the legendary Matchmaker pulling the Red String to arrange marriages in the world. Cylindrical rotating lanterns with different colours represent men and women of different races and characters being tied together by the Red String of fate.

     Another set of lanterns "Bonded Couple Saying Love Forever" is set up at the lotus pond illustrating the well-known legendary characters "Cowherd and the Weaving Maid". They are carried by giant birds with mandarin ducks, lanterns and twin lotuses around them.

     Spectacular lantern "Renewal and Blessing in the Fruitful New Year" is put up at the landmark. With 12 rotating coin lanterns representing the 12 ancient Chinese hours, they encircle the giant petal-shaped lanterns. It symbolises good fortune in the coming New Year.

     Colorful lanterns of flying bats and green bamboos are also displayed at the piazza.

     For more information on the above events, please call 2591 1340 or visit the website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/eo

Ends/Monday, February 6, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:00

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