Chinese New Year in Beijing: Top Things to Do, See and Celebrate
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in China, marked by festive celebrations, family reunions, and cultural traditions.
If you’re in Beijing during the Chinese New Year period, you’re in for a treat.
Below you’ll find the best ways to experience Chinese New Year in Beijing: from buzzing temple fairs and spectacular ice festivals to the Spring Festival Gala, Hong Bao traditions, lucky foods, and the customs you absolutely should not skip (or break).
So, ready to ring in the new zodiac year in style?
Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival
Chinese New Year Temple Fairs
Beijing’s numerous temple fairs make essential visiting for those wanting to get a feel for traditional Spring Festival celebrations.
A temple fair (庙会, miào huì) is a traditional festive market held in or around a temple or park, combining folk performances, food stalls and handicraft sellers.
Dotted across the capital, Beijing’s temple fairs are usually held from the first day of the lunar new year, varying in duration, some continuing until the Lantern Festival (元宵节, Yuánxiāo Jié) on the 15th day of the lunar calendar’s first month.
The Lantern Festival deserves its own moment. It marks the official end of the Spring Festival period, and Beijing celebrates it well.
Expect lantern riddle competitions (猜灯谜, cāi dēng mí), glowing lantern displays, and bowls of tang yuan (汤圆, tāng yuán), sweet glutinous rice balls that symbolise family unity.
Where to see lanterns in Beijing: Shichahai (什刹海) lake area is one of the most atmospheric spots, with lanterns reflected in the water. Ditan Park and Beihai Park also host Lantern Festival events most years. The Old Summer Palace (圆明园) lantern shows are particularly spectacular if they run.
While the programs vary from fair to fair you’ll be sure to catch some traditional folk performances, taste local snacks and purchase local handicrafts.
One thing to bear in mind is that the fairs are very busy, so mentally prepare yourself. It might feel like this is where the whole of Beijing has been hiding during the holiday.
Here are 3 suggestions for fair-filled new year:
Longtan Fair:
What to expect: sporting events including martial arts, ping pong, arm-wrestling, diabolo spinning, chess. Participation from spectators is encouraged, and snacks are easy to find.
Address: Longtan Park, 8 Longtan Road, Dongcheng District
Closest Subway: Tiantandongmen Station (Line 5)
Open: Around 8am to 5pm
Admission: ~10 CNY
Ditan Temple Fair:
What to expect: one of the most popular fairs across Beijing, be prepared for a variety of ‘intangible heritage performances’ including ceremonial shows, shadow puppetry, and dragon and lion dances (舞龙舞狮, wǔ lóng wǔ shī). The lion and dragon dance performances here are among the best in the city, so arrive early to get a good viewing spot near the main stage area. There are local snacks too, so factor in extra time to explore the food stalls.
Address: Ditan Park, Anding Gate, Dongcheng District
Closest Subway: Yonghegong (Line 2 & 5)
Open: Around 8:30am to 5pm
Admission: ~10 CNY
Dongyue Temple Fair:
What to expect: a full celebration of 福 (fú, Good Fortune), the character you’ll spot upside-down on doors all over Beijing during CNY (upside-down 福 = 福到了, fú dào le, ‘fortune has arrived’). Pray for fú, write fú cards, and walk the fú road.
This is also a great place to take in Beijing’s CNY decoration culture up close: red lanterns (红灯笼, hóng dēng long) hanging from every doorway, spring couplets (春联, chūn lián) pasted either side of entrance gates with auspicious phrases for the new year, and windows covered in red paper cutouts (剪纸, jiǎn zhǐ). The streets around Dongyue Temple are particularly well decorated.
And yes, local snacks are everywhere.
Address: 141 Chaoyangmenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District
Closest Subway: Chaoyangmen Subway (Line 2 & 6 )
Open: Around 8am to 6pm
Admission: ~10 CNY
Other fairs for exploration:
- Changdian Temple Fair (Xicheng District)
- Wuxiancaishen Temple Fair (Xicheng District)
- Baiyun Temple Fair (Xicheng District)
- Beihai Park Temple Fair (Xicheng District)
- Summer Palace Temple Fair (Haidian District)
- Old Summer Palace Temple Fair (Haidian District)
- Hongluo Temple Fair (Huairou District).
Please Note: prices and times are “guestimations” based on last year’s events, we’ll let you know for sure once the information is released.
Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival
If you’re feeling like getting out of the city for a day and you couldn’t make it all the way to Harbin this winter, then Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival might be just the thing for you.
A couple of hours journey away, the Northwestern outskirts of Beijing hosts its very own Harbin-like exhibition of ice sculptures.
Every year from the 15th of January until the end of February hundreds of local and foreign-made ice sculptures are on display in the Longqing Scenic area.
The frozen sculptures are complemented by lights and in some cases, these light displays are made to resemble notable structures or famous places like the Great Wall. Usually there is a specific theme for each year.
The festival makes a great day or overnight trip from Beijing, but remember to wrap up warm! For more on what to do in Beijing in winter, check out our guide to Beijing winter ice festival and activities.
Have a look at our Day Trips From Beijing blog for more day trip ideas!
Chinese New Year Spring Festival Gala
New Year’s Eve in Beijing centres on the reunion dinner (年夜饭, nián yè fàn), the most important meal of the year.
Families travel from across China to sit at the same table, share dumplings, fish, and noodles, and ring in the new year together.
Restaurants book up weeks in advance, so if you want to eat out on New Year’s Eve, reserve early.
If either braving the crowds or the cold isn’t for you, don’t worry as you can still experience the festival and cultural immersion from the comfort of your own sofa.
You can experience one of China’s more modern New Year’s Traditions by laying back, turning on your TV Set, and watching CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala.
TIP – In Chinese this is called 中央电视台春节联欢晚会 (zhōngyāngdiànshìtái chūnjiē liánhuān wǎnhuì), but this is generally shorted to 春晚 (Chūnwǎn).
The Spring Festival Gala is an all encompassing variety show: Chinese opera, small comedic (debatable) sketches, power ballards, lion dances, acrobatics, magic shows, you name it, it’s probably been done.
The show begins at 8pm on the Lunar New Year’s Eve and goes on until after midnight.
If you’re looking for some showtime snacks while you watch the gala you could make yourself some 饺子 Jiǎozi.
Apart from being delicious, it’s a Chinese tradition to make and eat dumplings on new years eve.
Dumplings are eaten at New Year because the word ‘jiaozi’ sounds like an old Chinese wording meaning to replacing the old with the new. Invite your friends round and make dumplings together, perfect for a new year!
Don’t forget to check out our blogs on Chinese Zodiacs and Chinese National Holidays.
PSST – Want to learn more? Check out our post on the must know Chinese New Year Vocab here.
Chinese New Year Beijing – Fireworks and Light Shows!
Watching fireworks is a popular way to celebrate Chinese New Year in Beijing, and the city is known for having some of the most spectacular displays in the world.
In recent years, we’ve started to see spectacular light and even drone shows appear around the city during Chinese New Year celebrations.
Here are some things to know about watching fireworks during Chinese New Year in Beijing:
- Dates and Times: Fireworks are typically set off on New Year’s Eve and during the first few days of the Chinese New Year period.
- Locations: Setting off fireworks has been banned inside Beijing’s Fifth Ring Road since 2018, and since 2022 the ban covers the whole city unless the city government approves an official display. That means you won’t see fireworks at central spots like the Olympic Park, Tiantan Park, and the CBD area, so check local announcements for any official displays or light shows.
- Crowds: Fireworks displays in Beijing can draw huge crowds, so it’s important to arrive early to secure a good viewing spot.
- Best Viewing Spots: With fireworks banned in the city, your best bet is to look out for officially announced light and drone shows, or ask your host family or teachers where locals are celebrating that year.
- Cultural Significance: In Chinese culture, fireworks are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year. Watching fireworks during Chinese New Year is a way to participate in this cultural tradition and experience the festive atmosphere of the holiday.
Overall, watching fireworks is a thrilling and memorable way to celebrate Chinese New Year in Beijing, and a great opportunity to experience the city’s vibrant culture and traditions.
How Chinese New Year Works – 15 Days of Fun
Chinese New Year isn’t just one day: it’s a 15-day festival. Here’s a quick overview of the structure so you know what to expect if you’re in Beijing.
- Day 1 (New Year’s Day): Family visits begin. No cleaning, no sharp objects, no unlucky words. Temple fairs open across the city.
- Day 2: Married daughters return to their birth families. Some families burn paper offerings.
- Day 3: Traditionally considered an unlucky day for socialising, so many people stay home.
- Day 4: Gods and spirits return to earth. Businesses begin reopening.
- Day 5: The birthday of the God of Wealth (财神, Cái Shén). Fireworks often go off at midnight to welcome him. Expect noise.
- Day 6: Businesses fully reopen. Normal city life starts to resume in Beijing.
- Days 7-14: Social visits continue. Temple fairs are still running. A good window to visit Longqing Gorge.
- Day 15 (Lantern Festival, 元宵节): The grand finale. Lantern displays, tang yuan, and the official close of Spring Festival.
TIP💡 The first week is when Beijing is quietest, as many residents have left for their hometowns. It’s actually a great time to visit popular spots like the Forbidden City or Temple of Heaven with smaller crowds.
Want to plan your study trip around China’s biggest celebrations? Check out Chinese National Holidays to see the full calendar.
Chinese New Year Beijing – Red Envelopes
If you’re in Beijing over Chinese New Year, you’ll hear the phrase 红包 (hóng bāo, red envelope) everywhere. And if you’re lucky, you might even receive one. 🧧
The Hong Bao tradition is simple: older family members give red envelopes filled with money to younger relatives as a symbol of good luck and blessings for the new year. The colour red (红, hóng) wards off evil spirits, and the money inside represents prosperity.
How much goes inside? There’s no fixed rule, but even numbers are preferred (odd numbers are associated with funerals).
Amounts ending in 8 are especially popular, because 8 (八, bā) sounds like ‘prosper’ (发, fā).
The Beijing twist: digital Hong Bao. In Beijing, as in the rest of China, WeChat is built into daily life, and digital red envelopes have become a huge part of modern CNY.
During the Spring Festival, billions of WeChat red envelopes (微信红包, Wēixìn hóng bāo) are sent across China. It’s fast, fun, and genuinely exciting: groups send ‘lucky draw’ envelopes where recipients race to grab the biggest share.
TIP💡 If a Chinese friend or host family adds you to a WeChat group over CNY, watch for red envelope notifications. Tap quickly, they disappear fast! Setting up WeChat Pay before you arrive in Beijing is a smart move regardless.
Chinese New Year Beijing – Things NOT to Do
Knowing what to avoid during Chinese New Year is just as important as knowing what to do. Break one of these taboos and you might just bring bad luck for the whole year (at least according to tradition!) 😅
Here are the key don’ts to keep in mind:
- Don’t sweep or clean on New Year’s Day. Spring cleaning (扫尘, sǎo chén) must be done before New Year’s Eve. Cleaning on the first day is believed to sweep away good fortune. Leave the broom in the cupboard.
- Don’t wash your hair on New Year’s Day. In Mandarin, hair (发, fà) shares its character with prosperity (发财, fā cái). Washing it away on Day 1 is considered bad luck. Most people wash their hair on New Year’s Eve instead.
- Don’t use scissors, knives or sharp objects. Sharp tools are associated with cutting, and you don’t want to cut your luck or relationships at the start of a new year.
- Don’t say unlucky words. Avoid words like 死 (sǐ, death), 穷 (qióng, poverty) or anything with negative connotations. Positivity is the order of the day.
- Don’t give the wrong gifts. Clocks (送钟, sòng zhōng) sound like ‘attending a funeral’ in Mandarin. Pears (梨, lí) sound like ‘separation’. Shoes (鞋, xié) sound like ‘evil’. Umbrellas (伞, sǎn) sound like ‘scatter’. Stick to red envelopes, fruit baskets, or sweets.
- Don’t wear black or white. These are mourning colours in Chinese tradition. Go for red (红, hóng) or gold (金, jīn) to attract good fortune.
- Don’t leave rice bowls empty. An empty bowl symbolises poverty. Keep bowls full during the New Year period.
TIP💡 If you’re staying with a Beijing host family over CNY, knowing these taboos will earn you instant respect. Your hosts will be genuinely impressed, and relieved you didn’t sweep the kitchen on Day 1.
Chinese New Year Beijing – Lucky Foods to Try
Food is central to Chinese New Year celebrations. Every dish on the table means something, and in Beijing you’ll find a few northern specialities alongside the nationwide classics. 🍜
Here are 7 lucky foods to look out for:
- Dumplings (饺子, jiǎo zi): The king of Beijing CNY food. Shaped like ancient gold ingots, dumplings symbolise wealth. Some families hide a coin inside one dumpling, and whoever finds it gets good luck for the year.
- Fish (鱼, yú): The word for fish sounds like ‘surplus’ (余, yú). A whole fish is served at the reunion dinner and it is tradition to leave some uneaten, letting the surplus carry over into the new year.
- Nian Gao (年糕, nián gāo): Sticky rice cake whose name means ‘year higher’. Eating it symbolises rising fortunes, promotions and growth each year.
- Tang Yuan (汤圆, tāng yuán): Glutinous rice balls in sweet broth, especially eaten on the Lantern Festival (Day 15). Their round shape stands for family unity and wholeness.
- Long Noodles (长寿面, cháng shòu miàn): Longevity noodles. Never cut them: the longer the noodle, the longer your life.
- Spring Rolls (春卷, chūn juǎn): Golden and cylindrical, they look like gold bars. Eaten especially in southern China but found across Beijing during the festival.
- Glutinous Rice (八宝饭, bā bǎo fàn): Eight-treasure rice pudding, packed with dried fruits and nuts. The number eight (八, bā) is the luckiest number in Chinese culture.
TIP💡 If you’re studying Mandarin at LTL in Beijing over the CNY period, ask your teacher to go through the food vocabulary with you before the reunion dinner.
Knowing how to say 这个饺子里有硬币吗？(zhège jiǎozi lǐ yǒu yìngbì ma?), meaning ‘Is there a coin in this dumpling?’, will get big laughs at the table.
Spending Chinese New Year in Beijing while studying Mandarin is one of the best ways to truly live the language.
Find your perfect Mandarin program and celebrate CNY with real immersion.
Chinese New Year – FAQ’s
How do you say Happy New Year in Chinese?
Happy New Year in Chinese is 新年快乐 Xīnnián kuàilè.
Is Chinese New Year the same as the Gregorian Calendar?
No. Chinese New Year is the celebration of the start of the new Lunar Calendar year.
This festival is commonly referred to as Spring Festival in China and can take place anytime between late January and early March depending on the year.
How to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Beijing?
There’s a variety of ways to experience the magic of Chinese New Year in Beijing, from visiting temples to eating traditional foods to watching spectacular fireworks displays – there’s something for every taste!
How can I learn to talk about Chinese New Year in Chinese?
It’s easy! You could take group or individual classes at our school in Beijing or you could study anytime, anywhere using our online Flexi Classes!
What do people do during Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year is a 15-day festival packed with traditions.
Families gather for the reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, exchange red envelopes (红包, hóng bāo), visit temples and temple fairs, watch the Spring Festival Gala on CCTV, set off fireworks, and spend the first days of the new year with relatives.
In Beijing specifically, temple fairs at Ditan Park, Dongyue Temple and across the city are the main public events.
What are the don’ts on Chinese New Year’s Day?
On New Year’s Day you should not sweep or clean (you’ll sweep away good luck), wash your hair (the character for hair shares meaning with prosperity), use scissors or knives, say unlucky words like 死 (sǐ, death) or 穷 (qióng, poverty), wear black or white, or give gifts like clocks, pears, shoes or umbrellas, all have negative sound associations in Mandarin.
Positivity and red are the orders of the day.
What should you not do during Chinese New Year?
Beyond New Year’s Day itself, avoid lending money during the festival period (you’ll be lending away your wealth all year), arguing or crying on the first day (it sets the tone for the year), and breaking anything, broken objects symbolise broken relationships.
Some families also avoid eating porridge on the morning of New Year’s Day, as it was historically associated with poverty.
What are the 7 lucky foods for Chinese New Year?
The seven most auspicious CNY foods are:
— dumplings (饺子, jiǎo zi) for wealth
— fish (鱼, yú) for surplus
— nian gao (年糕, nián gāo) for rising fortunes
— tang yuan (汤圆, tāng yuán) for family unity
— longevity noodles (长寿面, cháng shòu miàn) for long life
— spring rolls (春卷, chūn juǎn) for prosperity
— eight-treasure rice (八宝饭, bā bǎo fàn) for good luck.
In Beijing, dumplings are king, no CNY table is complete without them.
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4 comments
[…] This is a great park to visit during Chinese New Year when they have their annual temple fair. […]
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WOW! The lights here are so special. They seem different from those in China, but they are also very beautiful!