If you light a lamp ....

Lantern Festival, Victoria Park, Hong Kong.

If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.
– Gautama Buddha

Peter surprised me by suddenly saying: "Let's go back to Macau." He had found another good deal at the Sofitel. I was fine with this, but I mentioned that I had actually intended to look at more Mid-Autumn Festival displays in Hong Kong. So he told me: "Look at them before you go." That just gave me one day to see them and there are lots, so I decided I might as well go for it and do a few on the same day.

I started by taking the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui to see the displays there. These consisted of different sized spheres next to the clock tower. Some were white and opaque and some were shiny and reflective. To be honest they weren't that exciting, but then I was visiting in the light. They may well be more impressive lit up at night time.

Lanterns, Tsim Sha Tsui.

Lanterns,Tsim Sha Tsui.

Lanterns, Tsim Sha Tsui.

After I had walked around this area a bit, I went to the star ferry terminal and took a ferry to Wan Chai. The journey across was very pleasant. The sun was just starting to go down and the light was reflecting off the windows of many of the buildings.

Looking back at Tsim Sha Tsui.

Looking back at Tsim Sha Tsui.

Looking towards Wan Chai.

Passing a colourful star ferry.

Star ferry man.

Star ferry man.

Waterfront in Wan Chai.

The beginnings of sunset.

Playground on Wan Chai Waterfront.

Playground on Wan Chai Waterfront.

In Wan Chai I headed off to Lee Tung Avenue, because I knew they always have beautiful lantern displays there. It was dark by the time I got there and the displays were already lit up. I think there are times when a dragon image is projected in one area of the displays, but I did not see this. As always the displays here were wonderful.

Lee Tung Avenue.

Lee Tung Avenue.

Lee Tung Avenue.

I visited a pharmacy near Lee Tung Avenue to get some things for Peter, then I took the MTR one stop to Causewaybay and headed to Victoria Park.

I have never been to the lantern display here before, because I always thought it would be so crowded you would scarcely be able to move. Maybe it gets like that at times, but during my visit it was fine. The displays cover a large area and there was plenty of room to move around.

Victoria Park at night.

Victoria Park at night.

The displays here were in several different groups. Near the entrance there was a flower and butterfly display which was amazingly colourful.

Flowers and butterflies.

Flowers and butterflies.

Flowers and butterflies.

Flowers and butterflies.

My favourite was nearby. It was a frog and waterlily display, which I thought was very cute. I don't think I have seen frog lanterns before.

Frogs.

Frogs.

Frogs.

I also liked the ocean display nearby. This was filled with a wide variety of different fish.

Fish.

Fish.

Fish.

Further over there was a display with rabbits and mooncakes that was very popular with the locals. It was hard to get in a good position to photograph that as people seemed to pose in front of it continuously. I had feared all the displays would be like that, but thankfully they weren't.

Hard to get near this one, but I battled through.

Nearby there was a giant rabbit lantern with smaller rabbit and mooncake displays next to it.

Rabbits.

Rabbits.

Rabbits.

Giant rabbit.

Then there was a lovely display with pandas, bamboo and purple blossom.

Pandas.

Pandas.

At the far end of the park there was a display with local animals such as: wild pigs, monkeys and squirrels. I must admit I liked the wild pig lanterns, most unusual.

Animals native to Hong Kong.

Animals native to Hong Kong.

Animals native to Hong Kong.

In one area a video of the Tai Hang Fire Dance was being shown.

In the central area there was a live performance of Chinese opera. You needed a ticket to go to this, not sure if it was free or if you had to pay. I didn't try and go in. I wanted to use my camera zoom to take some photos of the performers but although I thought I had charged my camera it hadn't worked properly and the battery was dead.

Not far away there was another Chinese opera stage but this one was made up of lanterns.

Chinese opera.

Chinese opera.

Chinese opera.

Overall, I was really impressed with the displays in Victoria Park. I thought they were spectacular. This event is free entry, too which surprised me. It's a great way to celebrate Mid-autumn

I headed towards the exit of the park, pausing to take some pictures of the fountain at the entrance changing colour. Then I headed home.

Fountain.

Fountain.

Fountain.