Darren YeohAh, it’s that time of the year again where the supermarkets are stocked full of mandarin oranges, the streets are decked out in bright red decorations, and there’s just this air of celebration going round. Yes, Chinese New Year – or Lunar New Year, for those who prefer to call it that – is just around the corner, bringing in the year of the rooster!
For many, the best thing about Chinese New Year is being able to gather with one’s family again. For others, this may very well be the most harrowing thing to look forward to throughout the entire year. While it is fun to visit your relatives, the jolly is usually all but quashed and replaced with fear when that ONE aunt or uncle arrives and starts asking you the very same annual set of difficult questions you’ve been asked since even before you acquired the ability to speak in proper sentences.
For those of you who simply cannot sit through another round of yearly interrogation of your love/career life, why not try something new this year and plan a CNY vacation with your family? Here’s a list of the top eight awesome destinations for Chinese New Year!
1. Hong Kong
I know, it’s a little bit of a cliché choice, but there’s no denying that Hong Kong is one of the best destinations ever to celebrate Chinese New Year. During the first three days or so of Chinese New Year, the modern city turns into a carnival of festive cheer and vibrant, colourful celebration. Combining both ancient customs and more modern elements, the metropolitan city promises an enjoyable CNY experience for any age group.
Apart from the sea of red lanterns that adorn the streets, those who find themselves in Hong Kong during the CNY celebrations can expect a dazzling display of fireworks at Victoria Harbour and a grand street parade through the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, one of the city’s busiest cities. If you’re travelling with children during this time, then you’ll also be happy to learn that Hong Kong Disneyland offers special promotions during this festive period! So, if you want to meet Mickey, CNY’s an ideal time to do just that!
However, one should not underestimate the crowd that would be in Hong Kong during CNY given its popularity as a travel destination and the ideal weather during this time of the year. That said, it’s tough to find a better and more authentic CNY destination than Hong Kong, so don’t be put off by the crowd!
P.S. Usually, I would suggest planning a one day trip to Macau by ferry when one visits Hong Kong, but given Macau’s reputation as the Vegas of Asia and the occasion of Chinese New Year, it might be wise to postpone or skip the detour as it would be extremely difficult to get ferry tickets during this time.
2. Phuket & Bangkok, Thailand
Image credit: Mike Behnken
Thailand is another one of the conventional favourites in terms of CNY destinations (and pretty much throughout the year in general), and it’s not hard to see why.
Although Chinese New Year isn’t a national holiday in Thailand like it is in most other Southeast Asian countries, it is still an ideal destination during this time. Out of all the many great locations throughout the country though, Bangkok and Phuket are probably the most popular choices.
In Bangkok’s Chinatown, Yaowaraj, you will find the Chinese communities of the city celebrating the new year with ambient decorations which impressively adorn the entire area. Have some delicious Chinese/Thai cuisine and enjoy the various cultural performances. You may also visit one of the local temples for some ‘siem-see’, which is basically Chinese fortune sticks. You’ve surely seen it in movies or old dramas before, where sticks containing various messages are placed in a container and shaken. The stick which falls out supposedly contains the answer to your personal queries.
As for Phuket, well, what can I say? Is there ever a time when a beach holiday is NOT ideal? Chinese New Year is all about family, after all and what better way to bond as a family than to go on a relaxing trip to a beach and then laze around? Apart from the water sports and activities, during Chinese New Year, the local Chinese community holds colourful parades and performances (AND FOOD!) throughout the island, promising a great blend of festive fun.
3. Osaka & Okinawa, Japan
Image credit: Mc681
This year, Chinese New Year falls on the final week of January, which more or less explains the inclusion of Japan on this list. You see, while many people think about Japan’s sakura (cherry blossoms) season during Spring, many tend to forget that the very first plants to bloom are the ume (plum blossoms), which typically happens anywhere from late January to early February. The blossoming of the ume signify the beginning of spring and ume matsuris (plum festivals) are held in shrines and parks throughout the country.
But of course, Japan is not just about plums during this auspicious period of the lunar calendar. Osaka is the food haven of Japan, as many would claim, and its street food is nearly impossible to contend with. Add to that the fact that Osaka has many beautiful sights such as Osaka Castle and great places for fun such as Universal Studios Japan, and Osaka makes the perfect spot for a CNY getaway!
But let’s not forget the humble island of Okinawa in the south either! Teeming with wildlife and natural beauty, Okinawa is one of those travel destinations overshadowed by more popular tourist locations. It houses beautiful mangrove rivers, deep cultural heritage and even a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the form of Shuri Castle! However, Japan is currently experiencing extremely cold weather conditions, so make sure to pack appropriate clothing if you’re heading there.
4. Siem Reap, Cambodia
Image credit: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas
In Cambodia, Chinese New Year is known locally as ‘Tet’, and celebrating Tet in Cambodia is quite an experience, albeit amid a different colour scheme (Tet decorations are in red and yellow instead of just red).
On CNY eve, locals bring offerings (flowers, fruits, etc.) to the pagodas before the night transitions from one of giving thanks into one of song and dance, and delicious street food. While the capital, Phnom Penh, sees the biggest of these celebrations, Siem Reap is my personal choice for a Cambodian CNY getaway.
Often considered the gateway to the Angkor region (yes, that’s where Angkor Wat is, in case anyone’s wondering), Siem Reap is a city steeped in tradition and culture. When in Siem Reap, obviously visit the Angkor Wat. But apart from that, why not seek an ancient water blessing from some of the traditional monks? What better way to start off the new year with an ancient ritual for good fortune, am I right?
If you need more encouragement, look no further than to meteorology. CNY is perhaps the very best time of the year to visit Siem Reap and Cambodia because the rainy season begins quite soon after, usually in late March or early April. So don’t miss your chance, guys, or you’ll have to wait to the second half of the year for ideal travel conditions.
5. Sydney, Australia
Image credit: NomadicPics
A New Year from the Land Down Under! Ushering in the year of the rooster from the land of the kangaroos! That’s right, we’re talking about Australia. Well, Sydney to be exact.
Sydney is one of the places in Australia which has the highest number of ethnic Chinese communities and as such, the CNY celebrations in Sydney are not only the best in Australia, but also considered one of the most important cultural occasions in the country. Chinatown is once again the place to be, with a plethora of CNY decorations, cultural activities and street food stalls lining the street.
At Cockle Bay, one can view the sophisticated design of a traditional Chinese dragon boat and witness an exciting dragon boat race. Also not to miss is the great parade which features huge lanterns, beautiful floats and a kaleidoscope of activities such as martial arts demonstrations and even karaoke contests!
Having grown from a meagre community in the past, Sydney’s annual Chinese New Year celebrations are not to be missed. You’ll also most likely be one of the earliest to ring in the new year given Australia’s time difference compared to the rest of the world. Now, how does that sound, mate?
6. San Francisco & Los Angeles, California
Image credit: Daniel Dionne
For those wishing to go much beyond Asia for their CNY holidays, then California would be an ideal destination, especially the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Boasting what is arguably the largest Chinese populations outside of Asia, the CNY celebrations in San Francisco and LA offer some of the grandest Asian cultural festivals in North America.
In LA, expect Chinatown to be filled with numerous colourful parades, traditional dances, food, firecrackers and much more! Celebrations usually start at midnight at the local temple and that entire section of LA turns into a right party. Free festivals and games are often also played throughout Chinatown during the festivities and one can be sure to have a ball of a time!
On the other hand, San Francisco’s Chinese community has a history that dates as far back as the late 19th century. With such deep cultural roots, it’s no wonder that the CNY celebration in San Francisco is one of the best in the country. In fact, its night parade on Chinese New Year day is considered one of the top ten parades in the world! It’s such a popular occasion that some American airlines have actually begun to sponsor said parade! So for a great CNY celebration in the great west, you can’t do much wrong with California!
7. Kathmandu, Nepal
Image credit: Svetlana Grechkina
Without a doubt, a CNY vacation to either Hong Kong or California would mean diving head first into huge crowds and packed festivals. For a more relaxed, unconventional, but equally rewarding CNY getaway, turn your eyes to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.
First of all, you won’t be brushing shoulders with too many fellow tourists, and the Nepalese capital city is one rich in cultural heritage and good food. And what’s CNY without good food, eh? Of course, you will find some cultural activities during Chinese New Year, such as cultural dances and performances, but don’t expect the mega parades one could find in Hong Kong.
A fun and rewarding thing to do would be to explore the Durbar Square in Kathmandu. These squares are essentially old royal palaces of Nepal’s past, containing within them a deep heritage and history of the country. Not far from Kathmandu is the quaint village of Nagarkot, from which one can enjoy spectacular views of the Himalayas and the surrounding paddy fields.
So for a bit of peace and quiet away from the rowdy firecrackers and nagging aunts or uncles, visit Kathmandu. Plus, it’s really difficult to disagree with authentic Nepalese cuisine, just saying.
8. China (From whence you came)
Image credit: Hendrik van den Berg
And to round off the list, China. But it’s a little bit different from the rest of the destinations on this list because there’s no one specific place or city. Rather, the suggestion is to visit your ancestral hometown – if you have one. True, the context of this entry in this particular article is a little more oriented towards certain ethnic groups, but perhaps for those who aren’t of Chinese descent, perhaps this can be some food for thought as well.
Now, let me be clear: I was born a Malaysian, I am Malaysian and I will see out my days as a Malaysian. But there’s no denying that my ancestors came from China. In my case, specifically from Chaozhou in the Guangdong Province.
Quite a few years ago, my family made a trip there to visit our ancestral home for the very first time. And boy was that one heck of an experience. You’ll come face to face with truly long lost relatives who somehow know your name even though you’ve never even contemplated their existence! The days will be filled with looking at old photographs and writings, listening to actual (great) grandfather stories, and oddly enough, learning the way of Chinese tea ceremonies.
Other than connecting to your roots, you’ll also be able to sample some authentic Chinese cuisine unique to your heritage and bloodline. Honestly, some of the ingredients used to make the dishes were completely foreign to me and yet, oddly, I quite enjoyed them…although I suspect the strong Chinese wines and spirits might have helped in part with that.
It’s an awesome cultural experience and one that truly befits the theme of Chinese New Year. So why not? If you have the chance, I truly recommend doing this at least once in your lifetime with your family.
Also read: 3 Places in Singapore You Definitely Want To Be This Chinese New Year
Happy Chinese New Year
And there you have it! Eight ideal destinations for the perfect Chinese New Year getaway! So, if you’re looking to spend Chinese New Year away from home this year, try them out! And with that, here’s wishing everyone a prosperous new year in the year of the rooster! Gong Xi Fa Cai!
