Many Westerners know the Chinese New Year — or Lunar New Year, to be accurate — only by its animal zodiac signs: the Year of the Dog in 2018, followed by the Year of the Pig in 2019, and so on. But if you travel to China, South Korea, Vietnam or other Asian nations that observe the holiday, you’ll discover a spectacular array of Lunar New Year celebrations and traditions.

What you should know about travel during the Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is the busiest period for domestic travel in China and many other Asian nations. Because most people get a long vacation, they often journey home to their families, resulting in crazy lines at train stations and sold-out hotels. If you intend to travel during the new year celebrations, make sure you book your lodging and transportation early. Post offices, banks, and some businesses may be closed for a few days, and in China, restaurants are often slammed on New Year’s Eve.¹

That’s the tough part about travel during the Lunar New Year. Here’s the good news: It’s fun! If you enjoy the energy of festivals, firework, and amped-up crowds, you’ll have a great time participating in the celebrations. So where should you go? Here are five of our favorite Lunar New Year destinations.

Chinese New Year destination: Hong Kong

To celebrate the Lunar New Year like a local, visit one of Hong Kong’s temples to pray for good fortune in the year to come. Then, head to the flower markets in Victoria Park on the eve of the new year. Throngs of people descend on the market to browse the elaborate displays and pick up auspicious flowers — such as orchids and peach blossoms — for family and friends. In the first two weeks of the new year, visit Lam Tsuen, an old part of Hong Kong known for its Well Wishing Festival. People come to write their wishes on red paper, which are tossed into one of the neighborhood’s trees (or an imitation tree).² Others release lotus lanterns into the nearby canal, creating a river of gently bobbing lights.

Hong Kong is famous for its Chinese New Year Night Parade, a snaking procession of drummers, acrobats, martial artists, costumed characters, lion and dragon dance teams, and lavish floats. It’s free to watch the parade from the street (just be sure to arrive a few hours early), or you can buy a seat in the stands.³ The next night, a spectacular fireworks display lights up Victoria Harbour, while lasers play over Hong Kong’s skyscrapers. You can see the show from any vantage point along the waterfront, or board a boat for an unforgettable cruise under the sparkling skies.

Chinese New Year destination: Beijing

In China’s capital, the Spring Festival is all about the temple fairs. Carrying on an ancient tradition, temples across the city host outdoor festivals with opera singers, puppet shows, folk dancers and artisans. One of the most picturesque is at the Old Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan, which recreates an imperial market with traditional foods, costumed actors and ice skaters in Qing Dynasty costumes.⁴ The Ditan Temple Fair features ritual offerings to the Earth God, ice and snow sculptures, abundant street food and huge crowds.⁵

The other two big traditions in Beijing: dumplings and fireworks. “Traditionally, all family members gather around the communal table to make dumplings, which are auspiciously shaped like the gold ingot, the money of ancient China,” explains food writer Celia Hu. Families eat a big meal, watch the CCTV broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala, and then feast on dumplings at midnight. Meanwhile, people all over Beijing set off fireworks, sending a cloud of smoke over the city.

Lunar New Year destination: Hanoi, Vietnam

In Vietnam, the lunar new year is called Tet Nguyen Dan. Tet is about looking back and honoring one’s ancestors, as well as looking forward to a lucky and prosperous year to come. Families burn incense and place offerings on household altars to remember departed loved ones, and invite people to their homes on New Year’s Eve for a lavish feast.⁶ In Hanoi, the streets are quiet on the first day of Tet, but the temples teem with families coming to offer prayers for the new year. On the fifth day, the city celebrates the Dong Da Festival. Martial artists re-enact a 1789 military victory, and a line of young men perform a fire dragon dance.⁷

Traveling in Vietnam during Tet presents a few challenges. As in China, domestic rail, train and plane tickets can be hard to come by, because many Vietnamese people travel home to be with their families. Hotel rooms are usually available, but many shops and restaurants will be closed. The upside is getting a chance to taste foods that are customarily prepared only for the new year, such as banh chung (a square, sticky rice cake), boiled chicken and candied fruits.⁸

Lunar New Year destination: Seoul, South Korea

Seollal — the first day of the lunar year — is a major holiday in South Korea. People spend the week before the holiday shopping for treats like Spam and tuna, sweets and cookies, soaps and shampoos. The family gift exchange takes place the morning of Seollal, after a rite honoring one’s ancestors and a carefully arranged, traditional meal. Everyone eats tteokguk, a soup made from sliced rice cakes, beef, eggs and vegetables. Each bowl you eat is supposed to add one year to your age, so don’t have too much!⁹

While the lunar new year in South Korea is more about family gatherings than public spectacles, tourists can enjoy it too. The National Gugak Center in Seoul features performances of Korean music. At Namsangol Hanok Village, a recreated rural community, you can learn to wear hanbok (traditional clothing) and play old-fashioned games.¹⁰

Chinese New Year destination: San Francisco

If a ticket overseas just isn’t in the budget this year, head to San Francisco instead. Since its beginnings in the 1860s, San Francisco’s Chinese New Year parade has grown into a huge procession with firecrackers, drumming and dancing. Of all the parade’s floats, the most spectacular is the 268-foot long Golden Dragon, which is carried by more than 180 martial artists as it prances through the city streets.¹¹ You can watch from anywhere along the parade route, or buy a seat in the bleachers on Kearny Street.

The parade is only one part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in San Francisco. On the preceding weekend, people flock to the Flower Market Fair to buy plants, flowers, and candies to serve to guests. Candies are displayed on a Harmony Tray in groups of nine, signifying longevity, or eight, for prosperity.¹² See puppet shows, make a kite or buy lucky souvenirs at the community fair.

Wherever your Lunar New Year travels take you, it’s important to protect your trip with travel insurance from Allianz Global Assistance. Find a plan and get your free quote!

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