Top 10 Asia’s Best Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year (Updated)

The World’s #1 Source of Research-Based Content, The Daily Top 10, we believe visiting Asia at the time of Chinese New Year is a form of experiential and unforgettable travel. Although we already shared with you the Top 10 Best Countries in Asia to Celebrate New Year’s Eve, there is no better time to get a sense of Asia’s culture and identity than at times of national celebration and expression. So, to make easier your thoughts of where to travel to enjoy festivity, we have compiled a list of the Top 10 Asia Best Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year.

Lunar New Year is one of Asia’s most important and exciting traditional holidays. It is celebrated in many countries with significant Chinese populations, such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and more. The celebrations typically include parades featuring traditional lion and dragon dances, fireworks displays, temple fairs, and family gatherings. Many cities also host cultural events such as concerts, dance performances, and food festivals. The dates of Chinese New Year vary between January 21st and February 20th, and the exact date for this year’s celebration, according to the lunar calendar, has fallen on January 22nd.

So, if you’re looking to experience the cultural richness of Chinese New Year, here is the updated list of the Top 10 Asia’s Best Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year.

What is Asia’s Best Place to Celebrate Chinese New Year?

Asian people, particularly those of Chinese descent, have a strong cultural and historical connection to Chinese New Year. For many, it is a time to celebrate their heritage and traditions. The holiday is a time to reunite with family, honor ancestors, and wish for good fortune in the coming year. Chinese New Year is also a time for forgiveness and making amends, for cleaning and decorating homes, and for giving red envelopes filled with money to children and unmarried adults. Chinese New Year’s day celebrations bring communities together and create a lively atmosphere that many people enjoy.

Not only the Chinese New Year but Christmas is a time for people to reconnect with their culture, traditions, and family. So, make sure to go through and visit the Top 10 Countries in Asia to Celebrate Christmas, also. Now let’s explore Asia and find out the Top 10 Asia’s Best Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year. But before we step into the Best place, let’s check out the rest of our list now!

TOP 10: Manila

Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is known for its lively and colorful celebrations of Chinese New Year. The city has a large Chinese community, and there are many events and activities to celebrate the holiday, such as traditional lion dances, parades, and fireworks. According to Asia Society, the Binondo district, also known as Manila’s Chinatown, is a particularly popular destination for Chinese New Year celebrations, with many Chinese-Filipino businesses and shops decorated in traditional Chinese decorations and offering special promotions and discounts during the holiday.

Additionally, many Chinese-Filipino restaurants in the area offer special menus and traditional Chinese New Year dishes.

Manila also has a rich cultural heritage and you can find many places of interest such as Intramuros, Rizal Park, Fort Santiago, and the National Museum of the Philippines. So, Manila can be considered a good place to celebrate Chinese New Year, with the combination of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations and the cultural heritage of the Philippines.

TOP 9: Taipei

According to Nickkembel, Chinese New Year is the most important of Taiwan’s holidays and the longest break most people have there. What’s more interesting for visitors is the Taiwan Lantern Festival, which comes on the 15th day of the lunar year. It is known for its traditional Chinese New Year celebrations and some of the popular activities that take place in Taipei during Chinese New Year include:

• Temple visits: Many people visit temples to pray for good luck and prosperity during the new year.

• Lion and dragon dances: Lion and dragon dances are a traditional way to celebrate the new year.

• Traditional performances: Many traditional performances take place in Taipei during Chinese New Year, including martial arts demonstrations, opera performances, and puppet shows.

• Fireworks display: A large fireworks display takes place on New Year’s Eve in Taipei.

• Lantern festival: One of the most popular events of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Taipei is the lantern festival.

• Food and shopping: Many people enjoy traditional Chinese New Year foods such as dumplings, glutinous rice cakes, and tangyuan.

TOP 8: Vietnam

Vietnamese is equivalent to Chinese New Year and is the most amazing holiday to be in this wonderful South East Asian Country. You can often enjoy the festive atmosphere and explore one of the oldest holidays in the world here in the cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Hoi An. These cities throw the best festivities with free cultural shows, music, and entertainment.

According to Asia Highlights, the New Year festival mostly concentrates on the city’s Chinatown, where street markets and Vietnamese food stalls see plenty of takers. As the quaint city of Hoi An is known for its Chinese influences, the New Year celebration here is one photogenic spectacle. The streets are lined with blossoming trees and colorful lanterns, as well as pagodas and temples where you may see Tet rituals. During the night, the lantern festival on Hoai River is an enchanting sight to see; you’ll see floating candles bearing the hopefuls’ wishes to their ancestors. Check out our list of the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Places to Visit in Vietnam to explore more places in Vietnam.

TOP 7: Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia is another multiracial country whose demographic composition contains Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other indigenous Bumiputra groups. In addition, this is the reason why there are so many ways to celebrate Chinese New Year in Malaysia. While Malaysia’s vibrant capital, Kuala Lumpur, hosts Chinese New Year celebrations in temples, such as Thean Hou, the George Town Heritage District or on the island of Penang is far better known for its festivities.

According to Wonderful Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur, the celebrations are considered a bit reserved. The people crowd the temples to pay respects to the gods, light joss sticks, burn paper cuts for their ancestors, and admire the decorations. Malls are illuminated with flashy décor, and they host small celebrations while during the evening, people stream through the streets to enjoy the open-air markets and the fireworks.

TOP 6: Shanghai

Shanghai is a paradise for visitors and locals to capture the mixed familiarity with Chinese traditions. They alike watch as the Yuyuan Old Town Bazar glows soft orange under the beautiful lantern displays while traditional performances weave their way through the Yuyuan Garden. You can also ring the bells, burn joss sticks at the City God Temple, which dates to the year 1403, or Longhua Temple, which was first built in 242 AD, and go on a shopping spree at the famous shopping street Nanjing Road to lap up the Chinese New Year deals.

According to LTL Shanghai, new clothes, especially red clothes and household items, are common purchases to celebrate in the New Year. With all that, Shanghai’s Chinese New Year celebrations offer a unique blend of traditional and modern celebrations that attract both locals and tourists alike.

TOP 5: Bangkok

Thailand’s largest Chinatown is located in Bangkok; therefore, it takes the happy responsibility of organizing the biggest celebration of the Chinese New Year of  Thailand. During the Chinese New Year day, many Chinese visit the temples to pray to the gods for good fortune and pay their respect to the elders. Around noon,  parades start to fill the streets. You will often see the lion dance and people with Chinese masks at Yaowarat Road.

The vendor-lined streets of Chinatown are beautifully decorated with red lanterns, and the stage is readying for a vibrant parade with plenty of dancers, floats, lanterns, and drummers. Chinese New Year’s parades and cultural performances highlight the legacy of Chinese culture in Thailand. According to Holidify, opening the festivities is usually done by the Thai Princess, and she can be seen throughout the celebrations partaking in fun. 

The city is lit with a beautiful shade of red during the night as the parade charges ahead with its long dragon that is lit up with LED lights, acrobats spinning high in the air, and musicians playing all night. While engaging in celebrations of the Chinese New Year, plan to visit the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Places to Visit in Thailand.

TOP 4: Melbourne

Australia is one of the best landscapes to visit during the Chinese New Year, as  Melbourne is known to have a huge Chinese community. Melbourne holds a strong tradition with the Chinese community. So, Chinese New Year is taken seriously and celebrated hugely among locals. According to Whatson Melbourne, the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival historically attracts over 100,000 people to Chinatown each year to celebrate the food, music, art, and culture of Melbourne’s Chinese and Asian communities.

During the celebrations, all visitors have the chance to visit and enjoy world-class restaurants, bars, shopping, and experiences. In the morning, there will be a Lunar New Year Lion and Dragon dance at the Melbourne Museum to welcome the new year.

TOP 3: Singapore

Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore are a fascinating mix of old and new traditions because their population comprises Chinese, Indian, and Malaysian ethnic groups. For many years, Singapore’s lively Chinese New Year festivals have brought all its locals and visitors together at the River Hongbao. The plethora of festivities are held along the glowing streets of pre-war shophouses, temples, and clan houses, with a phenomenal outdoor food market.

According to Visit Singapore, many temple fairs and lion dance performances are held throughout Singapore to celebrate the new year, as well as traditional Chinese performances such as opera and music and traditional food fairs. And don’t miss out on the lights and lanterns in red and gold strewn across Victorian and Baroque architecture, traditional songs and dances, some spectacular firework displays, nightly parties, and shows. So, it’s truly a Carnival!

TOP 2: Hong Kong

As the Chinese New Year arrived, you’d notice how Hong Kong is painted RED! The Chinese New Year celebrations in Hong Kong kick-start with the well-known night parade, which is called Tsim Sha Tsui, with bright floats and stunning dance performances along the harbor front, sending down a rain of confetti and elaborate decorations. It is one of the top attractions in Hong Kong, which also includes traditional dragon dances, lion dances, and impressive fireworks, which last for almost half an hour.

According to Hong Kong Traveller, there’s a Wheel of Fortune at the Peak of Hong Kong Island for travelers who like to gain some good fortune. You can also receive blessings as well as catch spectacular panoramic views of Central, Victoria Harbour, Lamma Island, and more. However, Hong Kong Chinese New Year Celebrations are some of the liveliest and most colorful festivities you will ever experience.

TOP 1: Beijing

Known to have the leader of all Chinese New Year celebrations, the capital city of China- Beijing, combines tradition and modernity perfectly for the Chinese New Year. The city offers a wide range of cultural and traditional activities during the festival, making it a vibrant and exciting destination for both locals and tourists. One of the highlights of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Beijing is the grand parade that features traditional lion and dragon dances.

Additionally, Beijing’s historic hutong alleyways, known for their traditional courtyard houses and narrow streets, are beautifully decorated with lanterns and red banners during Chinese New Year, creating a colorful and festive atmosphere. Visitors can take a stroll through these neighborhoods and experience the traditional culture of Beijing. According to Beijing Visitor, temple fairs are also a popular activity during the Chinese New Year in Beijing. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, such as lion and dragon dances, acrobatics, and martial arts performances. Accordingly, Beijing is Asia’s Best Place to Celebrate Chinese New Year.

What are Asia’s Best Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year?

Asia offers a wide variety of exciting destinations to celebrate Chinese New Year. From the vibrant street parades in Hong Kong and Singapore to the traditional temple fairs in Beijing and Vietnam, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Other top destinations include:

• The Lantern Festival in Taipei.
• The Dragon Boat races in Malaysia.
• The Lion Dances in Bangkok.

Whether you’re looking for a big-city celebration or a more traditional, small-town experience, Asia’s Top 10 Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year are sure to provide an unforgettable experience.

Here is the list of the Top 10 Asia’s Best Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year:

1. Beijing
2. Hong Kong
3. Singapore
4. Melbourne
5. Bangkok
6. Shanghai
7. Kuala Lumpur
8. Vietnam
9. Taipei
10. Manila

So, The Daily Top 10 wishes you and your family a prosperous and joyful Chinese New Year. May the Year of the Ox bring you good luck, good health, and happiness. Have you ever visited any of these destinations during the Chinese New Year? If yes, let us know about your experiences in the comments below! If not, now is as good a time as any for some red lanterns, elaborate parades, exorbitant red displays, and the infamous Golden Dragon, are we right?