The World's Largest Cultural Event Starts Tomorrow: This Is How to Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu

The Year of the Horse is here: a festive guide to visiting Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu in the middle of the Spring Festival, the colorful, family-friendly holiday celebrated by 1.5 billion people worldwide

PassportNews
published 16.02.26 | 09:00 | Updated 16.02.26 | 09:20

Chinese New Year. Photo: Shutterstock

If you're looking for a special, one-time opportunity to visit China, the Chinese New Year is the perfect time. Also known as the "Spring Festival," the holiday is not just a local holiday but a cultural phenomenon that reaches 1.5 billion people in China and in Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and many other countries in East Asia.

The holiday, which usually runs from late January to mid-February (February 17 in 2026), lasts 15 days and features age-old traditions, culminating in the famous and spectacular Lantern Festival. It is a time when the entire country comes to a standstill for two festive weeks of family reunions, house-cleaning to ward off bad luck, and the distribution of "hong bao" (red envelopes filled with money).

If you plan on traveling to China, we've mapped out the locations of the celebrations in three of the country's most central cities: Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu.

Beijing: The Imperial Experience

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The Chinese capital offers a combination of historical splendor and lively folk celebrations. The weather here is wintry and very cold at this time of year, but the celebrations warm the atmosphere and offer a variety of events:

Forbidden City: The Palace Museum presents special exhibitions for the holiday, which in recent years have also featured innovative digital displays illustrating the customs of past emperors.

Light and Ice Festivals: While fireworks are limited in the city center, Beijing makes up for this with spectacular LED displays in Sanlitun and Olympic Park. Those seeking a unique experience will find a spectacular Lantern and Ice Festival in Longqing Gorge Park or lantern displays on the Great Wall.

Culinary: In Beijing, the official holiday dish is jiaozi (dumplings), which symbolize wealth and luck.

Shanghai: Between Skyscrapers and Tradition

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Shanghai, the "Magic City", offers a completely different experience from Beijing, cleverly mixing futuristic and traditional elements. The key advantage for tourists in the city is that major department stores and major tourist attractions remain open even during the holiday.

Yu Garden: The city's main pilgrimage site. The Lantern Festival here is world-famous and includes huge, colorful displays, street food, and traditional cultural activities.

Longhua Temple: The ancient temple hosts a moving midnight ceremony, in which 108 Buddhist monks ring a bell to drive away evil spirits and welcome the New Year.

Modern celebration: Shanghai Disneyland and Happy Valley theme park offer their own versions of the holiday, with fireworks displays, huge parades, and festive decor.

Culinary: Unlike Beijing, Shanghai emphasizes "tang yuan" (sweet sticky rice balls), smoked fish, and sweet dishes that symbolize the removal of past-year bitterness.

Chengdu: Peace and History

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The Sichuan capital offers a slightly more relaxed, but no less colorful, alternative, with a strong emphasis on ancient traditions and a warm community atmosphere.

Wuhou Temple Fair: The city's iconic event, when temple grounds are filled with folklore performances, festive decorations, and an atmosphere that celebrates the glorious local history.

Jinli Ancient Street: On holiday nights, this ancient street becomes especially magical under the light of red lanterns, with food and handicraft stalls against a backdrop of classical Sichuan architecture.

Chunxi Road Shopping District: The area brings the city's contemporary vibe with interactive displays and festive pop-ups.

Green retreat: For those seeking peace and quiet amid the hustle and bustle, Chengdu Cultural Park offers more relaxed celebrations in green, tranquil spaces.

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