The Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival or Chunjie, is the biggest holiday of the year in Beijing. It is a prime time to visit and experience the local culture. The former capital of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties (1271–1911) has hundreds of years of traditions and ceremonies associated with making an auspicious year.
Beijingers have a Chinese New Year's Eve meal and customs and perform temple ceremonies, and now they also celebrate at the Great Wall, at bars, and at special modern entertainment festivals. Here is what Beijingers do for the festival, travel information, and places where you can celebrate Chinese New Year too if you decide to visit. Traditionally, it is the one time a year when everyone goes home to see their family.
Beijingers have a Chinese New Year's Eve meal and customs and perform temple ceremonies, and now they also celebrate at the Great Wall, at bars, and at special modern entertainment festivals. Here is what Beijingers do for the festival, travel information, and places where you can celebrate Chinese New Year too if you decide to visit. Traditionally, it is the one time a year when everyone goes home to see their family.
| Chinese New Year Eve at Home (February 7, 2016)Chinese new year reunion dinner.Most Beijing residents will try to be home on Chinese New Year's Eve. They especially want to make the traditional New Year's Eve family dinner. If you have Chinese friends (or family) you might be lucky enough to be invited to a reunion dinner. |  New Year reunion dinner |
Temple of the Earth at Chinese New Year On the evening of New Year's Eve, families tune in to watch the Spring Festival Gala on CCTV. With over 700 million viewers yearly, it boasts the largest audience of any TV show in the world. The best musicians, dancers, and acrobats perform on stage.
Chinese New Year Day (February 8, 2016) and Afterwards . As the week goes on, Chinese people visit relatives and friends, starting with the closest and moving on to more distant relatives and friends. It is customary to bring gifts in the form of food, sweets, alcohol, or hong bao (red envelopes with money).
Meanwhile, both young and old continue to set off their fireworks and light rockets. These will continue to explode over the buildings for the 15 days of the Spring Festival (so be careful if you happen to be walking around on the street!). People also go out to the temple fairs. They are places to go to taste the local flavor in the way of food, art, music, games, and people.
Hongluo Temple FairWant to experience a more subdued, authentic temple experience? Escape the crowds in the city center and take a bus out to Hongluo Temple in Huairou district. Take part in prayer meetings and connect with Buddhist culture, or enjoy the dance troupes and traditional snacks in the scenic temple courtyard.
Chinese New Year Day (February 8, 2016) and Afterwards . As the week goes on, Chinese people visit relatives and friends, starting with the closest and moving on to more distant relatives and friends. It is customary to bring gifts in the form of food, sweets, alcohol, or hong bao (red envelopes with money).
Meanwhile, both young and old continue to set off their fireworks and light rockets. These will continue to explode over the buildings for the 15 days of the Spring Festival (so be careful if you happen to be walking around on the street!). People also go out to the temple fairs. They are places to go to taste the local flavor in the way of food, art, music, games, and people.
Hongluo Temple FairWant to experience a more subdued, authentic temple experience? Escape the crowds in the city center and take a bus out to Hongluo Temple in Huairou district. Take part in prayer meetings and connect with Buddhist culture, or enjoy the dance troupes and traditional snacks in the scenic temple courtyard.
 Honglou Temple  Summer Palace Temple  Longqing Gorge Ice  Oh No - see below | Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow FestivalLongqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival ice sculpturesThe Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival is about 50 miles outside central Beijing. It is usually open from the middle of January until the end of February. There are ice sculptures like those in Harbin. It’s a great day/overnight trip, especially if you can’t make it out to Harbin Ice and Snow World. 10 Things you should not give as a Chinese New Year Gift 1. Sharp Objects - insinuates you want to cut off relations with them! 2. 4 of anything - number 4 sounds similar to the Chinese word for death - so unlucky 3. Shoes - because the word for shoes sounds just like just like the word for bad luck 4. Handkerchiefs - people generally give them at the end of a funeral meaning good bye 5. A clock - the biggest no-no in Chinese culture. Means running out of time! 6. Pears - because the word for pears sounds just like the word for parting or leaving 7. Flowers - especially Yellow Chrysanthemums (or white flowers) usually given at funerals. 8. Umbrellas - sounds like the word for breaking up and usually means you are breaking up with them. 9. Black or white object vs Red Objects - Black and White are important colors in funerals, so avoid presents that are largely black or largely white, or wrapping paper or envelopes in these colors. Red, however, is believed to be a festive and fortunate color, so red is always a great option for envelopes, or gifts. 10. Mirrors - are a bad idea for gifts throughout much of Asia, as they are believed to attract malicious ghosts. On top of that, they are easily broken and breaking things is a bad omen. |