The 5 best places to celebrate Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year begins on 30 January 2014 (Chinese New Year’s Eve) and runs until 13 February 2014 (Lantern Festival), so I thought I’d share with you 5 of the best places to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

1. Hong Kong

Hong Kong loves to celebrate with fireworks and lasers at the waterfront. Head to Victoria Harbour on 1 February 2014 at 8pm (earlier to get a good spot) to see the fantastic pyrotechnic display!

2. Singapore

Celebrations are centered around Kreta Ayer Square in China Town – head there in the evening to see fire eaters, lion dancers, and the female dance troupes. Celebrations last for 15 days across the festive period.

3. San Francisco

San Francisco is home to the vibrant Chinatown area and hold a famous Chinese New Year parade every year. This year it is being held on Saturday 15th February 2014 and you should get your spot on the pavement early for a good view. The parade starts on Market Street at 5:15pm and runs up Kearny Street to Columbus.

4. London

The Chinese New Year celebrations in London may be the biggest outside of Asia. London’s Chinatown is filled with food stalls and fireworks erupt across the city. This year the main celebrations are taking place on 2 February 2014, and the celebrations kick off with a New Year’s Parade that passes along Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue. The party will then be officially ‘opened’ in Trafalgar Square at midday where they’ll be a plethora of performances from various artists.

5. Beijing

Many Chinese will celebrate at home with a traditional family dinner on 30 January 2014, and then head onto the streets to let off fireworks and Chinese firecrackers. Also, over the period there are many fairs and festivities held at temples across the cities.