Chinese New Year (January/February)

Celebrating the Festival of Longevity – Chinese New Year in Winter

Chinese New Year, also sometimes known as Lunar New Year, occurs every year in the late January or early February and marks the start of the Chinese Calendar in mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and many other countries with a Chinese diaspora around the world. It’s a key holiday, celebrated for 15 days, with Red Lucky Money Packets filled with money given to children and the elderly. Chinese New Year is a time for family gatherings, reunion dinners, wearing new clothes, firecrackers and happy celebrations.

Stunning Displays at Chinese New Year Celebrations

The start of Chinese New Year is marked with colorful firework displays and festive parades, while temples fill with visitors coming to pray for their health and success in the coming year. Lanterns, drums and dragon dances color the streets, while during the night, lanterns light up the skyline. Some cities, such as Beijing, get creative and host amazing ice and snow sculptures during Chinese New Year.

Unique Traditions During Chinese New Year

Exchanging Lucky Money packets is one of the many fun customs people have during Chinese New Year. These red envelopes contain money, and are usually given to children, notes of appreciation for good deeds, or for bringing luck to the family during the year. On the husband and wife’s first meeting of the New Year, the wife puts a collection of mandarin oranges on the bed to represent a look of prosperity and good health during the Year of the Rat.

Food Festivals to Celebrate Chinese New Year

The night before Chinese New Year is called the "Champions Dinner" in which family members gather for a dinner at the eldest family member’s home. Special New Year's Eve dishes are served, such as special dumplings with coins, and prawns believe to bring joy, while fish is served to represent abundance. The New Year feast is called the 'Surrounding of the Stove', as it is believed that the stove must be given the first offerings of the year.

A Week of Joyful Celebrations

Chinese New Year is full of fanfare, from firecrackers, to traditional music, and lion and dragon dances performed on the streets. The Lantern Festival marks the end of the two-week celebration, as lanterns are lit throughout the city in a spectacular display for all to enjoy. It is also common to take the time off to explore nearby tourist destinations, such as the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an or even a visit to the Great Wall of China.