Tag Archives: Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year – A celebration of colour and glamour

Posted on by

The origins of Chinese New Year are unclear but there are myths and legends that surround how it all began. A mythical beast named ‘Nian’ awakens on New Year’s Eve to cause harm and destruction.

Chinese New Year | Image Credit - Mutante, CC BY-SA 3.0 Via Wikipedia Commons

Chinese New Year | Image Credit – Mutante, CC BY-SA 3.0 Via Wikipedia Commons

Preparing for New Year

The preparations for New Year begin several days before the actual event. It is important not to clean once the New Year has begun as you will be ‘cleaning away’ the good luck that has begun to gather inside the home. The New Year is also a time for shopping. Be sure to visit the street markets that crop up in the vicinity of 4 star hotels in Hong Kong the likes of Park Hotel Hong Kong in the days leading up to the festival.

NYE celebrations

New Year’s Eve is when most people put up their decorations. The decorations must be red in colour, which signifies good luck. The traditional New Year’s Eve Feast brings together family, travelling great distances to be reunited and dine on sumptuous traditional food such as dumplings and sticky rice cakes.

New Year’s Day celebrations

Loud fireworks are a key part of ushering in the New Year. Rockets and chains of firecrackers pierce the night to mark the dawning of the New Year and families look forward to this joyous time.

Following New Year’s Day

It is customary to visit relatives in the days following New Year’s Day. Most businesses will reopen on the 8th day of the New Year as eight is considered a lucky number.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

Google+

Kunming preparing for Chinese New Year – Enjoy the Festivities

Posted on by

With Chinese New Year falling on the 7th of February this year, millions of employees, business people, students and soldiers from every corner of the country will visit their family and friends during this month to celebrate the upcoming spring and end of winter season.

Chinese New Year | Image Credit - Flickr user: ahisgett, CC BY 2.0 Via Wikipedia Commons

Chinese New Year | Image Credit – Flickr user: ahisgett, CC BY 2.0 Via Wikipedia Commons

Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year also called the Lunar New Year and the Spring Festival is undoubtedly one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world. In many cities around the world, you will find enthusiastic Chinese New Year celebrations featuring fireworks, parades and numerous cultural performances.

Kunming Preparations

As you might expect the celebrations for the Chinese New Year in Kunming is one of the grandest of them all. Visitors may take the opportunity to experience the celebration that includes cultural performances like those of acrobats, opera singers, calligraphers, stilt walkers, puppet shows and drummers.

Accommodation

As a rule of thumb, ensure to reserve your stay prior to your arrival in order to avoid last minute struggles. If you are planning to host a party or a meeting during this time of the year, ensure to check out hotels which offer event and meeting venues in Kunming the likes of Grand Park Kunming.

Travel & Transport

According to the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, more than 22 million visitors are due to fly the skies of China during Spring Festival. Furthermore, they have stated that the country might put in domestic flight routes to control the spike in air travel.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

Google+

 

Guide to Travelling During Chinese New Year – Experience the Best with None of the Pitfalls

Posted on by

Chinese New Year is one of the biggest celebrations of the nation, and many wonder if travelling to China during this time is a good idea. It definitely can be if you’re aware of a few things.

Chinese New Year | Image Credit - Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikipedia Commons

Chinese New Year | Image Credit – Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikipedia Commons

Closed Institutions in New Year

Many travellers tend to think that everything closes during Chinese New Year, but that is far from the case. During this time, educational institutions, business offices and factories close, but not places such as restaurants, airports and tourist destinations.

Travelling During New Year

Since this is one of the most significant festive seasons in China, you will have to deal with higher rates along with much higher crowds as well if you’re travelling to or around the country. Since there will be lots of people coming to China, and moving around within the nation, it’s best to make travel arrangements in advance.

Accommodation and Dining

Many of the top hotels in China’s big cities, including Xi An China hotels, tend to be fully booked. So if you’re planning on staying at a place such as Grand Park Xian, you should book your rooms well in advance. It’s also best to do the same with dining reservations.

Fireworks

The explosive kaleidoscopic experience of fireworks during Chinese New Year is a sight to behold and takes place precisely at midnight. Look to witness this spectacle from a high altitude for the best experience.

Intrigued by history, art and food, Shazzana Hamid is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary. Disguised as Lavinia Woolf she writes of the exhilarating and enchanting.

Google+

Safe and Healthy Chinese New Year – Things to Watch Out For

Posted on by

Chinese New Year is massive nationwide celebration and an astonishing experience with much joy and cultural splendour. The fireworks in particular are unbelievable.

Chinese New Year | Image Credit - Westerheversand, CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikipedia Commons

Chinese New Year | Image Credit – Westerheversand, CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikipedia Commons

Pollution

During Chinese New Year, there’s mass exodus of people travelling from the city to their various hometowns. This can result in exponentially more pollution, which will reach critical mass when the fireworks go off. So if you suffer from health problems, it’s best to be prepared.

Stay Vigilant in Crowds

During Chinese New Year, crowds will be at their most congested, so one should always keep an eye out for pick-pockets or kinds of unsavoury people. Theft can easily go unnoticed if you’re in a crowd.

Fireworks

When the fireworks begin they can be overwhelming, and dangerous if you’re at ground level. If you’re staying at some high end accommodation, such as Clarke Quay hotels Singapore along the likes of Park Hotel Clarke Quay, then it’s best to enjoy the fireworks from the comfort and safety of your balcony.

Prepare Everything in Advance

During Chinese New Year, tourism can be at its peak, so be sure to make your travel arrangements, book your accommodation and reserve your restaurant tables well in advance to secure them for your arrival.

Intrigued by history, art and food, Shazzana Hamid is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary. Disguised as Lavinia Woolf she writes of the exhilarating and enchanting.

Google+

Chinese New Year – A joyous event

Posted on by

A traditional holiday of great importance, the Chinese New Year also known as the Spring Festival falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese calendar which typically falls on February. Ascott Beijing is a luxury apartment in Beijing which is known to provide comfortable Beijing accommodation right at the heart of the city from which you can observe the numerous customs and traditions of this time honoured traditional festival celebrated not only in China, but also in a wide array of countries like Malaysia, Macau, Taiwan and Singapore. Chinese are known to sweep their houses thoroughly to sweep away any ill fortune on this day and to make room for good luck to come in. it is a period of great joy and festivity where houses are decorated in red and adorned with couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity while the sound of firecrackers are heard permeating through the place adding to the jovial atmosphere.

Jayani Senanayake is a writer who dabbles in travel and all things exotic. Under the pseudonym of Calliope Sage, she writes of the allures that must simply be discovered.

Google+

Chinese New Year: A Celebration of the Old and the Welcoming of the New

Posted on by

While the world welcomes New Year with the beginning of a new calendar, in most cultures all around the world, the New Year is welcomed in many different ways, sometimes even at a different time. The Chinese New Year is one of them where the citizens of China along with most of their neighbours such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, welcome the New Year with the onset of spring. The festival, also called the Spring Festival, starts on the first day of the very first month, continues for fifteen days and comes to an end with the Lantern Festival.

As the New Year draws close, a number of open air markets are set up selling wares such as fire crackers, toys and flowers which are often purchased as gifts. Most floral decorations are symbolic of luck, prosperity, tranquillity and even health. Therefore, the giving of flowers during this time is considered a serious business requiring much thought and consideration.

These celebrations are marked with traditions whose roots date back centuries and traditions differ from region to region. One such tradition is the Annual Reunion Dinner which takes place on the eve of the New Year when families and relatives come together. At these family gatherings, a number of traditional delicacies made from pork, chicken and fish are made and enjoyed by all those present and the night ends with the lighting of crackers. Before the end of the evening, a family portrait is taken as well. Another common practice is the cleaning of houses, gifting of presents and decorating homes to symbolize fortune and happiness.

Another practice is the giving of money in red envelopes, which symbolize wealth, by parents to their children as the New Year dawns and the money is always given in even numbers. Another sight that is commonly seen on the streets during this time are the dragon dances for it is believed that the beating of drums and cymbals in combination with the image of the dragon scares away evil spirits.

For one who wishes to visit Thailand during this time, it is best to ensure the availability of a Bangkok resort for the influx of travellers during the holiday season is high. Choosing to reside in a hotel like the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa provides you with the option of seeing the sights, witnessing the celebrations of the new year and returning to the luxury of one of the best 5 star hotels in Bangkok and pampering themselves at their renowned spa.

Google+

Chinese New Year in Singapore – The Grandest Chinese Festival of Singapore

Posted on by

Located off the tip of Malaysia is the bustling nation of Singapore. Considered to be one of the most developed and urban nations in the Southeast Asian region, Singapore serves as a hub for the financial and economic system of the region. Due to its many vibrant shopping districts and complexes, recreational attractions, and cultural landmarks, it is also one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

The majority of Singapore’s population are Chinese, and therefore one of the most grandly celebrated festivals here is the Chinese New Year. This annual event, which is celebrated on the dawn of the new Lunar Year, is filled with rich traditions and customs which culminate in a vibrant, colourful and grand festival.

The Chinese New Year is one of the most eagerly anticipated cultural holidays in Singapore. The New Year is held in such high esteem, that the celebrations and traditions associated with it last the whole of 15 days! The festivities begin on the first day of the New Year, which is symbolically graced by the adornment of new clothes, and cleaning of households to ‘sweep away any ill fortune’. The streets are filled with families meeting each other or people just soaking up the jovial spirit of the New Year. Almost all the streets are decorated with traditional red lanterns and lights, which often contain the tantalizing aroma of the foods in the several street shops set up for the festivities.

There are also traditional Dragon Parades and Lion Dances during these celebrations. Chinatown in Singapore is one of the highlights of these celebrations, with grand decorations and many festivities. The grandest parade that takes place during this time is the Chingay Parade, which consists many elaborate floats and carnival-like street dances. The Chinese New Year dawns on February 10th for the Year 2013, so make sure you are a part of the celebrations!

Located in the city’s downtown area is The St. Regis Singapore, one of the most iconic and luxury 5 star hotels Singapore has to offer. Stay in one of the many different and stylish rooms or suites, while being pampered by world-class service. The hotel also offers a variety of restaurants, wellness facilities and many exciting guest services, making it one of the most dynamic luxury hotels Singapore.

Google+