Top Travel Destinations for Chinese New Year 2012
Chinese New Year is a Lunar New Year, which doesn’t come on a fixed day or date, like the general New Year, which is celebrated around the world. Infact, depending on the position of the moon, it keeps changing its arrival, and come somewhere between last week of January to first week of February. The occasion is the Spring Festival, when the people of China, or any country or place having similar traditions, celebrate the arrival of flowery spring and bid adieu to the cold winters. This year, it starts from 23rd of January to 2nd February, and the mainland China observes a public holiday of 7 days.
To explore the real charm, fun and authenticity of the festival, you must take a visit to one of the Chinese cities or those regions around the world, which celebrate the Chinese New Year because of their huge Chinese population and traditions. So take a trip to these popular places during the season, and provide yourself an amazing time.
- Beijing
The main capital city of China, is a colorful and lively place during the festive days. Here you can see, families celebrating in unity, having delicious meals, decorating their houses and distributing gifts. In Beijing, one of the best things to observe during festivities, is the grand Temple Fair, where people gather together to share the joy of the spring. You can also enjoy the various other spring carnivals, tea culture displays in the markets, acrobatic shows, Peking Opera, and many traditional events, which gives a very delightful and ethnic charm of the country.
- Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a very important administrative hub of China, which celebrates the New Year with as much fervor as any other Chinese district or area. The magnificent firework display at the Victoria Harbor is the best part of the festival, while the night flower markets and New Year parades entertain you to the core. The various attractions like performances, dragon dance, lion dance and so on can be experienced in the parades. You can also enjoy a horse racing show in Hong Kong, while shopping and praying would also be a part of the festivities. A Hong Kong trip during Chinese New Year will give you a very traditional glance at the country.
- Singapore
In south east Asia, Singapore also, you can have a blast during Chinese New Year. The cultural values and traditions of the country is quite similar to China, while many Chinese people also live in Singapore, which makes it a hot spot during the festive season. The main Chinatown area of Singapore arranges for a whole festive street bazaar, and many activities , like the lion dance, make the entertainment promising. Singapore also organize the popular Chingay Parade, which is full of Chinese traditions and performances. If you plan to visit Singapore for the Chinese New Year, you may get lucky and see the Fire Party, and traveling dance competition, like last year’s celebration.
- Mauritius
Though Mauritius doesn’t have a very huge Chinese population, the Lunar New Year celebrations in the country is as grand as any other place. The country observes a public holiday during this time and you will see exquisite red and gold decorations in the houses during the festival. Port Louis beach is the main spot to enjoy the New Year celebrations, where you can see many grand activities, including the dragon dance. Mauritius also celebrates the day with traditional cuisine like honey cakes, fish salad, prawns etc and illuminate the houses with lanterns on the concluding day of the entire festival, known as The Lantern Festival.
- Sydney
Besides the main Chinese lands and similar cultures, the Lunar New Year is celebrated in some parts of US and UK also, though Sydney, the capital city of Australia, organizes a grand ball during the occasion, for its huge Chinese population. Every aspect of the festival, including the street market, food stalls, Chinese opera performances, dragon dance and boat races, and parades showcasing Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean dances, all can be enjoyed in Sydney, during Chinese New Year.
Any of these places can be an ideal travel destination during this vibrant festival, where you can enjoy something unique and cherish the memories for a lifetime.