Places to ring in the Chinese New Year
Much like Christmas, the Chinese New Year is much celebrated with food, parade and fireworks. It has gotten so big that anywhere in the world you go, there’s a Chinese New Year celebration.
Here are the top 10 destinations to ring in the Chinese New Year:
1) HONG KONG. This bustling city’s Chinese New Year parade was selected by the Lonely Planet as one of the world’s most fascinating attractions, what with its all-out preparations showcasing illuminated floats, dragon and lion dancers, clowns, marching bands and an all-star cast of performers from around the world.
2) MANILA. This city’s Filipino-Chinese community throws an all-out bash to usher in the new year. The center of the action is in Binondo, home to the city’s Chinatown where traditional dragon dancers make their appearance, complete with live cultural performances and a spectacular fireworks display. Feng shui experts also lead the city’s Filipino-Chinese community in rituals around Makati, the central business district, to bring in good luck for the year.
3) BANGKOK, THAILAND. The labyrinth of stores that make up Bangkok’s Chinatown is never more alive or vibrant than during Chinese New Year. There are dragon and lion parades as well as Chinese Opera performances.
4) SINGAPORE. Celebrations of the Lunar New Year in this city are huge and come with a beautiful fireworks display.
5) BEIJING, CHINA. This major annual event, also known as the Spring Festival, normally lasts until the Lantern Festival or 15 days later. Highlights include the Temple Fairs in temples and parks all over the city.
6) SAN FRANCISCO, USA. The biggest Chinatown in North America is said to be located in San Francisco. The annual celebration is built around a spectacular parade with elaborate decorated floats, marching bands, lion dancers, Chinese acrobatics, and the Golden Dragon (Gum Lung). The dragon, over 200 feet long, is always featured in the finale, which takes a team of over 100 men and women from the White Crane martial arts group to carry it through the streets.
7) PARIS, FRANCE. Paris has a large and thriving French-Chinese community. Parisians crowd the streets each year to witness a parade of dancers and musicians, vibrantly-hued dragons and fish. Chinese restaurants are packed, and at night, musical performances and film festivals are held.
8) YOKOHAMA, JAPAN. On the eve of the Chinese New Year, lion and dragon dances are performed by high school students. On New Year’s Day, firecrackers are set off, with the loud music of gongs and drums, and a costume parade.
9) LONDON, UK. The large Chinese population of London celebrates with a procession of musicians, lion costumes, dancers and martial arts artists making their way through the streets from Trafalgar Square. In Chinatown, the streets are lined with food stalls selling delicious Chinese delicacies.
10) VANCOUVER, CANADA. Vancouver has a large Chinese community, and the Spring Parade is held annually in Chinatown on the first Sunday of the Lunar New Year, with entertainment and lion dance.
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