These destinations are renowned for going all out for Chinese New Year. If you’re planning to celebrate in style, this is where you want to be.
Whether you call it Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the biggest day on the Asian calendar - and this year, it falls on Saturday 28 January.
Street parties, lion dances and decadent banquets will be held in the lead-up to and during Chinese New Year across Asia, including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and, of course, China.
For anyone travelling to see the celebrations, we suggest you get there early and stay at least two weeks. Celebrations begin the evening before Chinese New Year and continue through to the Lantern Festival, which is 15 days later. And don't forget to check out our deals on travel during Chinese New Year.
Best Destinations for Chinese New Year celebrations
Beijing
For the hub of Chinese New Year celebrations, go straight to the source. Beijing and Shanghai are said to host the best Chinese New Year celebrations with carnivals, firecrackers and parades pulling anyone and everyone into the streets to cut loose and celebrate.
- Where to go: Beijing and Shanghai
- What to expect: Carnivals, firecrackers, parades, temple visits
- Events to attend: Qing-Style Sacred Ceremony at the Ditan Temple Fair, Longging Ice and Snow Festival at Longging Gorge
Hong Kong
Blending old traditions and customs with modern practices, Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year is like no other. It runs for three days and sees the city come alive with markets, fireworks, food stalls, florals and red glowing lanterns. They all set the scene for one of the biggest events of the day: the parade.
- Where to go: Tsim Sha Tsui, Victoria Harbour
- What to expect: Markets, fireworks displays, lanterns, parades
- Events to attend: Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui, fireworks display over Victoria Harbour, Chinese New Year races at Sha Tin Racecourse
Chinese New Year Fireworks Cruise with Unlimited Drinks from Voyagin
Watch the brilliant, 26-minute firework show over Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour. Board an 80-foot yacht and dine on a hot and cold dinner buffet, sip unlimited wine, beer and soft drink and get lucky red envelopes.
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Singapore
The anticipation for Chinese New Year in Singapore is stifling. An annual countdown in the city’s Chinatown begins three weeks prior with an official opening ceremony that includes fireworks and performances. Arrive a week before Chinese New Year and you’ll witness the street’s pre-war shophouses, temples and clan houses lit up in a spectacle of old meets new. They’ll remain lit for 19 continuous days.
- Where to go: Chinatown
- What to expect: Fireworks, street performances, decorated shopfronts and temples
- Events to attend: International Lion Dance Competition, Chingay Parade
Bangkok
Although the three-day-long celebrations in Bangkok are short, they most definitely are sweet.
The party opens with the Thai Princess, who partakes in the celebrations throughout the New Year. Bangkok’s Chinatown becomes a display of bright red and gold as floats, dancers and drummers parade down its streets. As the night wears on, the parade’s long dragon is lit up in LED lights to guide the way.
Lanterns glow throughout the streets and the night is further lit up with the crack and sparkle of firecrackers.
- Where to go: Chinatown
- What to expect: Parades with red and gold floats, street performers, dragon dancing
- Events to attend: Dragon parade on Yaowarat Road, Golden Dragon Dance, Dragon Parade
San Francisco
Proving that you should never underestimate the party power outside of Asia, San Francisco hosts a Chinese New Year celebration worthy of the trip. Boasting one of the oldest Chinese New Year celebrations outside Asia, its parade draws in over a million onlookers annually and consists of over 5,000 performers.
- Where to go: Chinatown
- What to expect: Parades with dancers, drummers, stilt walkers, dragon dancing and fireworks
- Events to attend: Chinese New Year Parade, Miss Chinatown USA Pageant, San Francisco Symphony Chinese New Year celebration
What's happening here in Australia?
Image: Sydney.com
Chinese New Year in Melbourne
Melbourne's Chinatown hosts a Chinese New Year festival. The 2017 festival details haven't been released yet, last year's events included roving performers throughout the day, a guess the number of fortune cookies contest and martial arts and lion dance lessons for children, to name a few.
Chinese New Year in Sydney
Sydney is hosting a Chinese New Year festival from 27 January until 12 February, with more than 80 events across the city. Some of them include the Westpac Lunar Lanterns Hub in Martin Place, and the Chinese Chamber Music Festival. The city will be lit up with lanterns in the shape of the zodiac signs in honour of the beginning of the Year of the Rooster.
Chinese New Year in Brisbane
Chinatown Mall will play host to lion dancers, fire shows, traditional music and cultural performances. There will also be stilt performers, ribbon dancers, paper cutting workshops and a fire cracker show.
Chinese New Year in Perth
Join the Chinese New Year fair and festival in Northbridge, with performances by lion dancers, traditional folk music players, martial artists and more paired with food stalls, firecrackers and more during the day-long event.
Chinese New Year in Adelaide
Kicking off on 4 February, the Lunar New Year Celebrations in Adelaide include a Street Party on Moonta Street in Chinatown. The street will be filled with food stalls, exhibitions and entertainment.
