Feng shui masters on Hong Kong’s Year of the Snake: Will it just slither along?


The worst of times may be over for Hong Kong, but the city may need to innovate and loosen up to make the best of the Year of the Snake, according to some of the city’s feng shui masters and soothsayers.

The wood energy of Lunar New Year, which begins on Wednesday, signalled good luck for the creative and tourism industries while providing a sense of healing for a wounded past, they predicted.

Feng shui master Eric To Chung-yin said the new year, though not entirely smooth-sailing, would still be a respite before the next two years, which he expected to be turbulent.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

“It will be a year of ups and downs, but I do not expect a dramatic rebound in terms of the economy,” he said. “This year will be a year to catch a breath, with opportunities for a slight upturn, before 2026 and 2027 bring even more instability.”

Celebrity host and feng shui master Qixianyu, better known as Master Seven, said the Snake Year would be good for the creative, innovation and tourism sectors to shine.

Agreeing, astrologer Letao Wang said: “In 2025, we might see some amazing development in the artistic industry, maybe more concerts and more artists wanting to come to Hong Kong to perform.

Unfold innovation with OPPO Find N5

“It’s a great year for Hong Kong to have a little bit of ‘free thinking’ to embrace its creative aspect. It’s no longer just about hard finance.”

The Chinese zodiac is a 12-year cycle of animal signs – rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Each year’s animal is paired with one of the five elements – metal, wood, water, fire and earth – whose characteristics and powers affect those born that year and also those under other signs. This will be the Year of the Wood Snake.

Famous Snake personalities include Chinese President Xi Jinping, pop star Taylor Swift, celebrity talk show host Oprah Winfrey, author J. K. Rowling and Cantopop legend Aaron Kwok Fu-shing.

Astrologer Wang Letao believes Hong Kong’s arts and creative industries will thrive in 2025. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Few upbeat signs for economy

The soothsayers did not expect the city’s economy to improve dramatically until 2028.

They noted that 2025 was the second year of Period Nine, a 20-year feng shui era that began last year and was ruled by the powerful, exciting fire element.

The current era, part of a 180-year cycle, heralded transformation, innovation and drastic change, making the new year auspicious for the filmmaking, creative and innovation industries.

But there were less favourable prospects for sectors such as construction, human resources, catering and retail.

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan Wan-kei said Period Nine prioritised spirituality and more abstract areas of life, paving the way for creativity and innovation to shine.

Ahead of the new year, he consulted the ancient divination text, the I Ching, and drew a lot randomly to see what lay ahead.

Interpreting it, he said: “Things will not turn worse, but I also do not see a way up. Hong Kong needs change, new mindsets and new ways of operating to survive.”

Astrologer Sunny Fung Ka-yik said he expected sectors related to “invisible” forces – such as technology and artificial intelligence – to do well in the Snake Year.

However, the prevailing fire element would result in short spurts of success rather than consistent good performance.

Fung said the Snake would favour women taking on positions of power, but cautioned that jealousy and back-stabbing might be on the rise.

Feng shui master To did not expect Hong Kong’s fiscal deficit to be resolved within the Snake Year.

Finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po has said the city’s deficit will more than double to nearly HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion) in the 2024-25 financial year from the earlier forecast of HK$48 billion.

To predicted that the property market would only rebound in 2028, bringing the government more revenue from land sales.

Astrologer Sunny Fung says he expects sectors related to “invisible” forces – such as technology and artificial intelligence – to do well in the Year of the Snake. Photo: Edmond So

‘John Lee will fare better than others’

The soothsayers predicted a better year for Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, as his birth year animal, the Rooster, was considered an ally of the Snake.

To said he expected Lee to have a relatively stable year compared with other world leaders, but did not anticipate sparkling results for his policies.

Kwan said Lee was born during a full moon and had a strong career star, but powerful metal elements in his birth chart could weigh down his actions during the Snake Year.

He felt it might be better if the city leader focused more on “things that can produce obvious results instead of taking risks”.

Good year for Trump, challenges for Xi

US President Donald Trump, who kicked off his term in office with a series of major and controversial executive actions, would have good fortune in interpersonal relationships, several feng shui masters agreed.

That is because the Snake favoured the Dog, the 78-year-old’s birth year animal.

To predicted that Trump “could have the upper hand in negotiations and diplomatic exchanges”.

Things appeared less rosy for Chinese leader Xi, 71, born in the Year of the Snake and soothsayers said it was because the Snake clashed with the Chinese guardian deity for the new year.

In Chinese mythology, there are dozens of gods who take turns to reign as the guardian deity, or taisui, ruling over prosperity and fortune for each year.

Those born in the Snake Year could expect challenges because the Snake clashed with the taisui for the new year.

For Xi, this could mean his good intentions might not produce the best results, To said.

“He might face added pressure and experience fluctuating emotions,” he added.

Different outlooks are predicted for Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Photo: Reuters

‘Fiery’ element already on display

Although the Snake Year was still days away, the soothsayers said there already were signs of its fiery element at work, in the ongoing California wildfire disaster and South Korea’s Jeju Air crash of December 29 that left 179 dead.

“The coming year will see more natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires, and traffic and aviation accidents,” Master Seven said.

“We should also be careful of travelling to countries in the northeast direction, such as Japan and South Korea, and a pandemic might start spreading from Europe.”

She cautioned against travelling during the partial solar eclipse in March and the total lunar eclipse in September.

Offering some solace, astrologer Wang said that according to numerology, 2025 would be driven by the number nine, indicating the end of a cycle and a time to reflect on a new kind of identity for the future.

“The Snake energy is about shedding old skin, leading to a new beginning, rebirth and healing,” he said.

“Always remember that we have to unload whatever is unnecessary, otherwise it’s too heavy.”

More from South China Morning Post:

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Others Also Read


All Headlines:

Want to listen to full audio?

Unlock unlimited access to enjoy personalise features on the TheStar.com.my

Already a member? Log In