Where to Experience Lunar New Year In Asia
China | The Peninsula Shanghai
Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in the country. For visitors, it is a festive and colorful way to experience a part of Chinese culture. Spanning 15 days, families travel far and wide to reunite and feast, honor their ancestors and give lucky red pocket money to children. Homes and beyond are decorated in florals, fragrant fruits and red paper. “Walking the flower market” is a popular activity where you may catch a lion or dragon dance and firecrackers.
Where to stay: The Peninsula Shanghai and its magnificently decorated lobby invites guests to come celebrate. The hotel is offering its annual lion dance performance and a reunion banquet menu at its Michelin-starred restaurant Yi Long Court.
Where to Experience Lunar New Year In Asia
Hong Kong | The Langham, Hong Kong
While Hong Kong celebrates Chinese New Year similarly to the mainland, the city hosts several events worth visiting. The flower markets are a big affair and are especially popular on New Year’s Eve post-reunion dinner. On the third day, trying your luck at horse racing on Chinese New Year Raceday is tradition. Make effort to join the locals at some point at the Lam Tsuen Well-Wishing Festival in the New Territories. While there are no fireworks in 2023, on the 15th and final day, you can witness the city decorated in thousands of lanterns during the Spring Lantern Festival.
Where to stay: The Langham, Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui places you in a central location for hopping around all the festive events. Plus, its signature Cantonese restaurant T’ang Court holds three Michelin stars.
Where to Experience Lunar New Year In Asia
Singapore | Andaz Singapore
Given Singapore’s large Chinese population, it’s no surprise the country goes all out for the Lunar New Year. While similar to new year in China, there are marked differences, most notably the food: here, common festival fare includes pineapple tarts and fish salad. Chinatown is a given but a must-visit is the River Hongbao which is elaborately decorated in lights each year. Be sure not to miss the Chingay Parade, a carnival-like event of dazzling floats and acrobatic performances.
Where to stay: Andaz Singapore is located in a lively neighborhood of intimate alleyways lined with vibrant shophouses. After a day of exploring, guests can enjoy a chic reunion dinner in a classic Chinese supper club at 5 On 25.
Where to Experience Lunar New Year In Asia
Japan | Grand Hyatt Tokyo
While it is not a national holiday, the Lunar New Year is observed in Chinatowns and certain regions of Japan. Started by Chinese settlers, the Nagasaki Lantern festival is now its own tradition; for two weeks, the city is transformed into a kaleidoscope of lanterns, parades and performances. In Yokohama, a port city that welcomed traders, there are parades, dragon and lion dances and even fireworks. While there, enjoy new year dishes that are distinctly Japanese, such as soba noodles, mochi rice cakes and dumplings.
Where to stay: Start your journey in the capital at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo, where you can savor authentic regional Chinese cuisine at the China Room.
Where to Experience Lunar New Year In Asia
Vietnam | Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho
Vietnam’s Tet holiday celebrates the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new year. During the two-week holiday, families reunite, visit pagodas and temples and gift lucky money to children. Homes and businesses are adorned in flowers, fruits and red paper decorations, while the streets come alive with dragon dances and firecrackers. Be sure to taste some popular festival dishes that are unique to Vietnam, such as sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves.
Where to stay: To immerse in Vietnam’s rich culture, escape to Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho, where four architectural styles, three restaurants and an Indigenous spa honor both the past and present.
Where to Experience Lunar New Year In Asia
South Korea | Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas
The South Korean Lunar New Year, Seollal, is a three-day holiday where many travel back home. Everyone also ages one year, known as their Korean age. The most important tradition is paying respect to one’s elders and ancestors; young people dressed in hanbok bow deeply to their elders in exchange for words of wisdom and money. A traditional new year meal may include dishes such as rice cake soup and savory pancakes. Throughout the holiday, folk games are enjoyed, especially by children—the most well-known being yut-nori, a game of sticks. For those not traveling to see family, the cities may be quieter than usual but this also makes it one of the best times to take crowd-free photos.
Where to stay: Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas is ideally located in the Gangnam area with links to the rest of the city.
Where to Experience Lunar New Year In Asia
Thailand | The Sukhothai Bangkok
Although not an official holiday, Chinese New Year is usually celebrated for two to three days across Thailand—and not just by those of Chinese descent. Stores and malls offer special promotions and temples and shrines teem with activity. For travelers, it’s an exciting time as the streets of the Chinese districts fill with vendors, dragon dances, acrobats and lots of red lanterns. The largest celebration takes place in Bangkok’s Yaowarat district and it is often attended by the royal family.
Where to stay: The Sukhothai Bangkok offers a serene reprieve from the bustling city. Join their Chinese New Year brunch on January 21 to enjoy a lion dance performance.
Where to Experience Lunar New Year In Asia
Indonesia | Kappa Senses Ubud
In 2003, the Indonesian government declared Chinese New Year—known locally as Imlek—a national holiday. Today, Imlek is especially celebrated with fanfare in cities with significant Chinese-Indonesian populations. Families gather to feast and come morning, visit temples decorated in red lanterns and candles. You can catch parades of dragon dances prancing down the streets and, over the course of two weeks, lion dancers performing around the city in exchange for lucky money.
Where to stay: Start the year anew at Kappa Senses Ubud; surrounded by rice paddies in the land of gods, this serene hideaway is a place to reclaim your inner peace.
Where to Experience Lunar New Year In Asia
Malaysia | One&Only Desaru Coast Malaysia
In Malaysia, the Lunar New Year is often referred to as simply Chinese New Year. While the public holiday is just two days, the actual festival lasts 15. Families reunite for New Year’s eve dinner and homes are open to friends and family. Some historic sights not normally open to the public may even be visited. On the 15th day, called Chap Goh Meh, homes are decked out in lights and women throw mandarin oranges into the sea to be caught by men in boats. Visit Chinatown for lion dances and bustling temples, or take a trip to Penang Island, which at night, is lit up with a million lights.
Where to stay: Celebrate with ocean views at the One&Only Desaru Coast Malaysia which has curated activities for the whole family, including a reunion dinner, midnight festivities, lantern making and lion dance performances.
Where to Experience Lunar New Year In Asia
Philippines | Shangri-La Boracay
The Lunar New Year in the Philippines stems from the Chinese-Filipino population, known locally as the Tsinoys, and the government usually declares the day as a non-working holiday. The best place to experience the Tsinoy New Year is in Manila’s Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, where you can catch fireworks at midnight, watch dragon and lion dances and peruse the colorful shops. Don’t miss the Philippine’s special new year treat, tikoy, a sticky rice cake symbolizing family unity.
Where to stay: Escape to the beach at Shangri-La Boracay and feast on a Lunar New Year buffet. For kids, there are bunny-themed activities to usher in the year of the rabbit.
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China | The Peninsula Shanghai
Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in the country. For visitors, it is a festive and colorful way to experience a part of Chinese culture. Spanning 15 days, families travel far and wide to reunite and feast, honor their ancestors and give lucky red pocket money to children. Homes and beyond are decorated in florals, fragrant fruits and red paper. “Walking the flower market” is a popular activity where you may catch a lion or dragon dance and firecrackers.
Where to stay: The Peninsula Shanghai and its magnificently decorated lobby invites guests to come celebrate. The hotel is offering its annual lion dance performance and a reunion banquet menu at its Michelin-starred restaurant Yi Long Court.
2 /10
Hong Kong | The Langham, Hong Kong
While Hong Kong celebrates Chinese New Year similarly to the mainland, the city hosts several events worth visiting. The flower markets are a big affair and are especially popular on New Year’s Eve post-reunion dinner. On the third day, trying your luck at horse racing on Chinese New Year Raceday is tradition. Make effort to join the locals at some point at the Lam Tsuen Well-Wishing Festival in the New Territories. While there are no fireworks in 2023, on the 15th and final day, you can witness the city decorated in thousands of lanterns during the Spring Lantern Festival.
Where to stay: The Langham, Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui places you in a central location for hopping around all the festive events. Plus, its signature Cantonese restaurant T’ang Court holds three Michelin stars.
3 /10
Singapore | Andaz Singapore
Given Singapore’s large Chinese population, it’s no surprise the country goes all out for the Lunar New Year. While similar to new year in China, there are marked differences, most notably the food: here, common festival fare includes pineapple tarts and fish salad. Chinatown is a given but a must-visit is the River Hongbao which is elaborately decorated in lights each year. Be sure not to miss the Chingay Parade, a carnival-like event of dazzling floats and acrobatic performances.
Where to stay: Andaz Singapore is located in a lively neighborhood of intimate alleyways lined with vibrant shophouses. After a day of exploring, guests can enjoy a chic reunion dinner in a classic Chinese supper club at 5 On 25.
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Japan | Grand Hyatt Tokyo
While it is not a national holiday, the Lunar New Year is observed in Chinatowns and certain regions of Japan. Started by Chinese settlers, the Nagasaki Lantern festival is now its own tradition; for two weeks, the city is transformed into a kaleidoscope of lanterns, parades and performances. In Yokohama, a port city that welcomed traders, there are parades, dragon and lion dances and even fireworks. While there, enjoy new year dishes that are distinctly Japanese, such as soba noodles, mochi rice cakes and dumplings.
Where to stay: Start your journey in the capital at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo, where you can savor authentic regional Chinese cuisine at the China Room.
5 /10
Vietnam | Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho
Vietnam’s Tet holiday celebrates the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new year. During the two-week holiday, families reunite, visit pagodas and temples and gift lucky money to children. Homes and businesses are adorned in flowers, fruits and red paper decorations, while the streets come alive with dragon dances and firecrackers. Be sure to taste some popular festival dishes that are unique to Vietnam, such as sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves.
Where to stay: To immerse in Vietnam’s rich culture, escape to Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho, where four architectural styles, three restaurants and an Indigenous spa honor both the past and present.
6 /10
South Korea | Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas
The South Korean Lunar New Year, Seollal, is a three-day holiday where many travel back home. Everyone also ages one year, known as their Korean age. The most important tradition is paying respect to one’s elders and ancestors; young people dressed in hanbok bow deeply to their elders in exchange for words of wisdom and money. A traditional new year meal may include dishes such as rice cake soup and savory pancakes. Throughout the holiday, folk games are enjoyed, especially by children—the most well-known being yut-nori, a game of sticks. For those not traveling to see family, the cities may be quieter than usual but this also makes it one of the best times to take crowd-free photos.
Where to stay: Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas is ideally located in the Gangnam area with links to the rest of the city.
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Thailand | The Sukhothai Bangkok
Although not an official holiday, Chinese New Year is usually celebrated for two to three days across Thailand—and not just by those of Chinese descent. Stores and malls offer special promotions and temples and shrines teem with activity. For travelers, it’s an exciting time as the streets of the Chinese districts fill with vendors, dragon dances, acrobats and lots of red lanterns. The largest celebration takes place in Bangkok’s Yaowarat district and it is often attended by the royal family.
Where to stay: The Sukhothai Bangkok offers a serene reprieve from the bustling city. Join their Chinese New Year brunch on January 21 to enjoy a lion dance performance.
8 /10
Indonesia | Kappa Senses Ubud
In 2003, the Indonesian government declared Chinese New Year—known locally as Imlek—a national holiday. Today, Imlek is especially celebrated with fanfare in cities with significant Chinese-Indonesian populations. Families gather to feast and come morning, visit temples decorated in red lanterns and candles. You can catch parades of dragon dances prancing down the streets and, over the course of two weeks, lion dancers performing around the city in exchange for lucky money.
Where to stay: Start the year anew at Kappa Senses Ubud; surrounded by rice paddies in the land of gods, this serene hideaway is a place to reclaim your inner peace.
9 /10
Malaysia | One&Only Desaru Coast Malaysia
In Malaysia, the Lunar New Year is often referred to as simply Chinese New Year. While the public holiday is just two days, the actual festival lasts 15. Families reunite for New Year’s eve dinner and homes are open to friends and family. Some historic sights not normally open to the public may even be visited. On the 15th day, called Chap Goh Meh, homes are decked out in lights and women throw mandarin oranges into the sea to be caught by men in boats. Visit Chinatown for lion dances and bustling temples, or take a trip to Penang Island, which at night, is lit up with a million lights.
Where to stay: Celebrate with ocean views at the One&Only Desaru Coast Malaysia which has curated activities for the whole family, including a reunion dinner, midnight festivities, lantern making and lion dance performances.
10 /10
Philippines | Shangri-La Boracay
The Lunar New Year in the Philippines stems from the Chinese-Filipino population, known locally as the Tsinoys, and the government usually declares the day as a non-working holiday. The best place to experience the Tsinoy New Year is in Manila’s Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, where you can catch fireworks at midnight, watch dragon and lion dances and peruse the colorful shops. Don’t miss the Philippine’s special new year treat, tikoy, a sticky rice cake symbolizing family unity.
Where to stay: Escape to the beach at Shangri-La Boracay and feast on a Lunar New Year buffet. For kids, there are bunny-themed activities to usher in the year of the rabbit.
