Lam Tsuen well-wishing festival begins on the 17th of this month

The annual Lam Tsuen Well-Wishing Festival in Tai Po will take place between the 17th of this month, which is the first day of the Chinese New Year, and the 3rd of March.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club will lend life-sized stallion models to celebrate the Year of the Horse.

Residents can once again participate in the beloved tradition of writing their wishes on placards before throwing them towards Lam Tsuen's wishing trees this lunar new year, with the cost of placards this year remaining the same at 50 dollars a piece.

There will also be a variety of entertainment ranging from new year markets to game booths and musical performances.

With the arrival of the year of the horse, the Hong Kong Jockey Club will lend two life-sized stallion models and a winners' enclosure to the Tai Po gala allowing visitors to experience leading the winning horse of a race.

They could also take the opportunity to take photos with a giant oil painting of champion racehorse Ka Ying Rising.

This as Lam Tsuen Wishing Square Development Chairman Gilvig Cheng said the village hopes to assist authorities in promoting the nation's sole racehorse-themed travel experience.

The venue will be open to visitors between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the 17th of this month as well as from the 23rd to 3rd of next month, while it will be open until 9 p.m. between the 18th and 22nd of this month.

Service of KMB's 63R and 64K lines will be strengthened.

The HKJC will arrange free shuttle buses for visitors on the 19th of this month travelling from the festival to the Sha Tin Racecourse.

Representatives of the Lam Tsuen Well-Wishing Square said the wishing tree tradition has played an essential role in the lives of local villagers as far back as the Qing dynasty in the 18th century. They hope the annual festive occasion could attract more Hong Kong people to remain in the city over the course of the lunar new year holidays, adding that traditions like this could not be found elsewhere.