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Ranging from winter locations such as Harbin to tropical islands such as Batam, let the year of the snake encourage you to take this new opportunity and experience this Chinese New Year holiday a little differently this year.
Chinese New Year (CNY) is around the corner and the year of the snake welcomes you to seek renewal, change and transformation. It's out with the old, and in with the new — shed your skin (i.e., say goodbye to negativity), and take on new opportunities this year. If you are planning to get away this long holiday or would like to experience the culture in a different setting, Colette Wong has adapted recommendations from Traveloka and curated a list of top 10 places to visit this Chinese New Year.
Note: Cities below are listed in random order.
1. Harbin, China
Ranked as the top ice and snow tourism city in China, celebrate CNY surrounded by majestic ice castles and snow sculptures during the world-famous Ice and Snow festival. The Harbin Ice festival will last till mid-February with many attractions for families to visit such as the Harbin Ice and Snow World, Sun Island and Zhaolin Park. Be amazed by snow sculptures’ creations and go down slides made out of ice blocks, a once-in-a-lifetime experience you cannot miss.
With January being the coldest month for Harbin, be prepared for the extreme cold as temperatures enter sub-zero ranging from -13℃ to -24℃.
2. Shanghai, China
For city lovers, Shanghai gives you a great combination of modern and traditional elements of celebrating CNY at a more relaxed pace as shops would close during the first few days of the new year, but tourist attractions and major stores will still stay open for you to explore. Be sure to visit the Lantern Festival Yu Gardens for its 30th anniversary displaying lanterns inspired by the mythical landscapes of the Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas) through this year’s theme of “The Beauty of All Things, The Wonder of All Creatures.” The Temple Fair is another must-visit spot to have a taste of local delights and to purchase traditional souvenirs for you to remember this unforgettable trip.
For families wanting a magical touch to this holiday, Shanghai Disney Resort is the perfect place for everyone to live their Disney fantasies with special Lunar New Year events, parades and themed foods at the happiest place on earth.
3. Hong Kong
Hong Kong takes its Chinese New Year celebrations seriously — walk down any street, and you'll be surrounded by lanterns galore and storefronts decorated with flowers and red banners (a.k.a Fai Chun 揮春), signifying good luck. The city also comes alive with lion and dragon dance performances all around, so be sure to catch one (or a few) while you're out and about exploring the neighbourhoods or visiting the night markets.
One highlight of visiting Hong Kong on Chinese New Year Day one is a chance to catch the annual Lunar New Year Parade, one of the biggest attractions in the city in this period. While tickets may be hard to get, do stay tuned to the live telecast on TV.
When day two comes, be sure to get a good spot facing the Victoria Harbour so you can catch the special fireworks display!
4. Denpasar, Bali
Bali has been home to the Chinese community since the 14th century making this holiday one of the important events to celebrate for many. Enjoy the festivities with a fusion of Balinese culture as the island will be lined up with lanterns, cultural performances, parades, fireworks and CNY special cuisines are expected to be served in restaurants. You may also catch the traditional lion dance performances at various shopping malls such as Level 21 Mall and Chinese restaurants too.
If you enjoy a tropical getaway for holiday, an island trip to Denpasar is the best place to be to unwind this CNY.
5. Seoul, South Korea
Also known as Seollal, families partake in rituals like ‘sebae’ (bowing to elders and wishing them a happy new year on New Years Day or Seollal) and ‘charye’ (a traditional ceremony to honour and express gratitude to ancestors by giving food offerings). Spending time with loved ones make up a huge part of the holiday but Seollal-themed events still take place in places like Everland, Lotte World and Seoul Land. Tourists can visit these theme parks for limited-time activities like sledding, parades and light shows. For a more traditional experience, visit the Namsangol Hanok Village from 28 January to 30 January for Korean traditional performances and activities.
The village events will run from 11:00am to 5:00pm during those dates. Other historical sites like Gyeongbokgung also becomes a hotspot during this time if you prefer to soak in the culture and traditional of Korean new year.
6. Hanoi, Vietnam
During CNY, Hanoi becomes alive with traditions and celebrations of various influences from Southeast Asia. Head to the Quang Ba Flower Market if you are night owl or an early riser as the market fills up with people as early as 3am. The flower market is the locals’ go-to spot during this season to pick up peach blossoms and ochna integerrima, flowers that are used during celebratory events such as CNY.
Enjoy an array of local food within the vicinity as food stalls line up along the market with freshly cooked dishes to try out. The colourful mix of sights, sounds and smell will definitely keep the bustling festive feeling alive in this city.
7. Singkawang, Indonesia
Home to mainly the Hakka Chinese population, Singakawang is known to be one of Indonesia’s largest Chinatowns with a mix of cultures from the Malay, Dayak, Javanese and Madurese communities. A must-try food item to have is the Mie Tiaw Asuk, a local dish consisting of flat noodles with egg, bean sprouts, sweet basil leaves, soy sauce, lime, shrimp and meat. Give Choipan a taste while you are in the city as well, a Chinese snack that gives you a spicy and tangy kick.
Singkawang is also a place rich with history and the best place to appreciate this aspect of the city is to visit the Tjhia family house. It is the landmark of Singkawang for more than 100 years and is still a home to the Tjhia family for six generations. What makes the Tjhia house a landmark on its own is the architecture and design of the building. Traditional Chinese architecture and ornaments are still preserved on the house and the surroundings of the place which makes it an ideal for lovers of culture to appreciate this form of art.
8. Ryukyu Islands, Japan
What makes Ryukyu special from the other parts of Japan is that they keep the Lunar New Year alive through three separate celebrations in a year. CNY would be the second celebration out of the three-part festive day with the first celebration being the new year and last being Jūrukunichi (also known as New Year of the Afterlife or gusō). Although CNY is celebrated on a smaller scale compared to other countries, Ryukyu or Okinawa in general is one of the only places in Japan that keeps this holiday alive. The celebration is infused with some Okinawan flavour through its decorations and practices.
There will be a parade which is a lead-up to a Ryukyu legend that god Miruku will travel to Okinawa from the seas to bring people happiness for the year. A royal parade will be hosted as traditional instruments likes the Sanshin (a three-stringed instruments) ring the air and dancers move to the beat of the taiko drums as they cry out in celebration.
9. Penang, Malaysia
CNY is largely celebrated among the richly populated Chinese community by having reunion dinner with families and tossing the Yee Sang to bring in prosperity for the new year. Other activities people typically partake in would be to attend the flame-watching ceremony at Ban Ka Lan Snake Temple on the sixth day of CNY. As the flames burn, it is thought to predict the state’s economic fortunes.
There will also be the Display of Lights event that happens every year at the Kek Lok Si Temple where thousands of LED lights and lanterns brighten up the city during this holiday.
10. Batam, Indonesia
During the first two days of CNY, Batam will be filled with lion dancers crashing drums and cymbals while locals give out red packets to lions for good luck. Expect to see parades and dancers carrying colourful man-made dragons as they run down the street. It is also a tradition to visit temples to pray for good fortune for yourself and your loved ones.
Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Monastery is one of the most popular temples to visit as it is currently the largest temple in Southeast Asia, and it is also open for tourists to stay for a night or two to find inner peace.
Whether the weather is sunny or cool, the festivities never die in these places with each of these spots welcoming travellers to experience a more localised CNY through the fusion of their own culture and tradition.
Perhaps it is good time to start planning and packing your bags as soon as you can to experience a different CNY this year. Enjoy!
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