Best Places to Go for Chinese New Year

One of the downsides of New Year’s Eve if you’re really into celebrating the dawn of a new year is that it only comes once a year. But if you’re a die-hard New Year’s party fan, there are other new year celebrations you can participate in – and the grandaddy of them all is Chinese New Year.

>> Chinese New Year in 2012 falls on February 3

If you’re lucky enough to live in a place with a substantial Chinese population then you might already have a Chinese New Year celebration you can enjoy without going too far. But if you’re looking for the best places to go for Chinese New Year, then the destinations listed in this article are the ones you’ll want to consider.

These cities all have world-famous Chinese New Year celebrations, so any one of them is a good option – all you have to do is pick the one that happens to be in a place you want to travel anyway. And hey, if you have a great time, then you can use this list to pick next year’s Chinese New Year travel destination, too.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is perhaps the best place to go for Chinese New Year, but not just because it’s in China. Chinese New Year (or CNY as it’s often called) is traditionally a holiday spent with family and friends, so many big Chinese cities clear out for the holiday itself. Hong Kong, on the other hand, is a place even the Chinese like to go for CNY.

Chinese New Year celebrations in Hong Kong are what most other CNY celebrations around the rest of the world are based on, so this is the birthplace of what we think of when we think of CNY. Head to Hong Kong for a series of events that begin on the first night of the new year. The biggest event is the Chinese New Year Night Parade, which is not to be missed.

Sydney

The Chinese New Year celebrations in Sydney typically last for about a month, and include the Chinese New Year Twilight Parade, CNY market stalls set up in the city center, and dragon boat races in Darling Harbour. There are also sometimes Chinese films being shown in conjunction with the celebrations, and some art galleries will have Chinese art on display.

New York

New York has its own Chinese New Year parade, which lasts for several hours and includes Chinatown as part of its route (naturally). The parade incorporates a bit of Americana as well, in that there are marching bands and floats in addition to the lion and dragon dances. The party in New York also includes a show of firecrackers and performances throughout the day of traditional singing and dancing.

Vancouver

Probably the most popular Chinese New Year celebration in Canada is in Vancouver, where they hold a Spring Parade every year on the first Sunday of the Chinese New Year. After the parade is over, the city’s Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden becomes the setting for an arts and culture festival.

San Francisco

San Francisco’s Chinese New Year parade began during the Gold Rush in the 1860s, making it the oldest in the country – and it’s still going strong today. The celebrations last for several weeks, and includes a street fair in Chinatown. The highlight of the events, however, is the famous parade, which features floats, lion dancers, firecrackers, stilt walkers, Chinese acrobats, marching bands, and the show-stopping “Golden Dragon” that always brings up the rear of the parade.

Singapore

If you can’t get to Hong Kong but you want to experience an enormous Chinese New Year celebration, then Singapore is your next best bet. It’s one of the larger celebrations around the world, and includes a huge parade, the whole of Chinatown lit up with traditional lanterns and other illuminations, a street market with hundreds of stalls, and shows every single night of what can be a month-long party.

Los Angeles

The Chinese New Year parade in Los Angeles is one of the oldest in the US – it dates back more than 100 years, and although there are bigger celebrations elsewhere the one in LA is definitely one to keep on your list. The city’s Golden Dragon Parade features more than 20 floats, marching bands, and the traditional lion and dragon dances – and at Universal Studios Hollywood there are often separate celebrations, too, including performers and a parade.

London

The popular Trafalgar Square in London is the center of all Chinese New Year activities in the city, including live performers, fireworks, and lion and dragon dances. The parade isn’t always on the first day of the new year (it’s usually held on a weekend, however), so make sure to check with the local tourism board so you don’t miss it.

Honolulu

There are lots of great reasons to visit Hawaii, and the fact that Chinese New Year tends to fall at a time of year when many are dreaming of a winter escape doesn’t hurt. Honolulu hosts a series of events for Chinese New Year that last for several weeks, including an evening parade through Chinatown, a day-long outdoor festival in Chinatown, traditional lion dances, and the lighting of firecrackers.

photo by Global Jet