5 things not to miss this upcoming CNY at East Point City

Every year before Lunar New Year arrives, Hongkongers flock in droves to the Flower Market in Mong Kok to stock up on plants, blooms, and greenery that carry auspicious meanings and are thought to confer good luck for the coming year. After the year we’ve just endured, goodness knows we need all the luck we can get! In lieu of the Victoria Park market, escape the inevitable crowds of Mong Kok and head over to East Point City’s annual flower market pop-up store instead.

For a limited time until 11 February, there will be a flower market event selling locally grown moth orchids and other festive plants to ring in the new year with a fresh, auspicious start. Orchids have long been a popular flower in Asian culture and beyond due to their elegant appearance and stunning range of colours, and are a perennial favourite during Lunar New Year.

This year’s flower market at East Point City is centred around this special plant, and if you are a member of The Point (East Point City’s loyalty programme), you can use designated bonus points on the programme’s app and same-day electronic spending to redeem orchid varieties!

Another speciality to look forward to at East Point City is every Hongkonger’s favourite bookshop and lifestyle goods store, Eslite. Available here as a Chinese New Year bazaar named Eslite Flavour, this Taiwanese brand has long been one of our favourite shops to while a day away over weekends. This new iteration is themed around “the taste of home over the new year”, and includes festive foodstuff and lifestyle products curated to make the Year of the Ox a great one. Visit the new Eslite location while it’s still around and you’re sure to find interesting trinkets to buy for your loved ones this festive season. Foodies should also make a point of checking out Japanese supermarket Yata’s food fair for food and drinks exclusive to this season.

Lunar New Year is all about food, of course, and to celebrate the occasion, East Point City has brought in a new range of food and beverage tenants to shake things up. Purists will love the traditional Chinese pastries and baked goods at Kee Wah or Imperial Patisserie—the latter has even collaborated with master chef Yip Wing Wah, the creator of the famous egg custard mooncake, for more innovative goodies. Don’t forget to see if you can get your hands on a tin or two of egg rolls; they’re a must-have Lunar New Year snack for all Chinese families! If you prefer chocolates and cakes to celebrate occasions with, then check out Lucullus for their confectionary and cha chaan teng-themed cookies.

All that shopping is tiring work, so fans of laksa need to stop by the new Kaya for lunch, a casual but well-decorated diner for the best of Singaporean food. For a quick pick-me-up, new addition Ocio is perfect for all-day breakfasts, pastries, and coffees. If all else fails, then Marks & Spencer and Yata will definitely stock all the food you need from Western to Eastern flavours. Be warned, if you go hungry, you’re liable to buy everything you see.

Rarely in animated cinema has there been a movie so universally beloved by all ages and genders like Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story. After four instalments spread over 24 years, it seems this film franchise has finally drawn to a close with Toy Story 4 in 2019, but fans young and old can still reminisce with East Point City’s Toy Story-themed Lunar New Year decorations this year! Inject your festivities with some fun and brevity with fan favourites Woody, Bo Peep, Forky, and more—this theme is sure to be a breath of fresh air compared to the traditional red and gold decorations elsewhere, so get ready for photos at these Instagrammable spots!