What to do in China during Chinese New Year?
Participate in events and activities of the festival and become a real part of the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Recommended activities during the Lunar New Year
Being a visitor of a Chinese community during the Lunar New year is a unique opportunity to have a closer look into the customs and get a better understanding of the cultural background of this major civilization. Regardless of the size of the place, someone visits, plenty of opportunities of participating in festivities and attending events can arise. Some of the most recommended activities for those who are in the capital or other big Chinese cities are:
Temple Fairs
One of the best festive and cultural-oriented experiences that someone can get in major cities of China derives from a visit to one of the Temple Fairs.
These fairs are taking place in large open areas or parks next to big temples and offer opportunities for praying as well as shopping, food-tasting, and entertainment. The famous dragon dances are one of the highlight events at these Fairs.
Visiting major attractions
Visiting some of the major attractions is something very common during the period of the Chinese new year.
It is highly probable that the top destinations like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China and others can be crowded or even sold out. Thus especially for this period, it is quite important to book the tickets in advance and have in mind that the opening hours can be slightly changed due to the holiday.
Firework events
The last years some Chinese local authorities have proceeded to some restrictions as far as the firecrackers tradition is concerned. This decision is related to the concerns about the air quality in major cities which was affected by the gunpowder smoke.
Today in Beijing there are no major state-sponsored firework shows but only smaller ones that take place at the neighborhood level. Other cities and regions continue to offer spectacular state-organized firework events following a tradition that was not interrupted for thousands of years.
Food and bars
China is anyway an ideal destination for visitors who are interested to taste the infinite varieties of Chinese food. During the New Year period this is getting even easier and to a certain extent almost mandatory. The numerous food stands at the Temple Fairs provide the opportunity to taste different snacks, delicacies, and gourmet dishes.
After the end of the official events and parades, many visitors choose to restaurants and bars in order to get a glimpse of the way to celebrate New Year like a local. It is actually quite nice to finish the day with some local nightlife vibes, enjoying a cocktail or a Baijiu (rice-based distilled alcoholic drink).
Is the Chinese New Year the best period to visit China?
The unique and colorful vibes of the Chinese New Year become dominant at least two weeks before the official start of the festival. The streets are decorated with typical red lanterns and other light decorations. Red posters with poetic verses are hanged on the walls of the houses and other buildings. While the homes are cleaned prior to the festival and the shopping period starts officially.
The Chinese New year is the longest public holiday in the country and many people chose to visit their families and friends or to travel abroad. The traveler needs to be prepared for long queues and potential delays since the transportation system tests its limits with hundreds of millions of trips. Many companies are closed and some attractions rearrange their opening hours, but the majority of the touristic businesses keep their ordinary schedule to assist the high demand.
Xiào yī xiào, shínián shào (laugh, ten years younger)
Undoubtedly, China is "the place to be" during the Lunar New Year celebration. The festivities kick off on New Year's Eve and finish with the Lantern Festival. During this 15-day period, a great number of performances and events are taking place across the country. While the majority of the visitors invest their time in sightseeing, shopping, and food tasting.
Smaller and big communities, host public events and activities that attract locals and visitors. Many places are well-known for their food or flower markets while others for their parades and celebrations in major temples. Among the major highlights of the festival are the dragon and lion dances as well as the spectacular firework events that always attract large crowds.
