Chinese New Year

[sammie101]

My partner and I are traveling to China in mid Jan 2010 to work/travel for 8 months+

We arrive in Beijing just before the Spring festival and we are wondering what to do on Chinese New Year!

We planned to do some touristy things to start off and work our way down the East coast. We are aware of the traveling hassle posed when 100s of millions of Chinese travel all over the country to be with there families. I understand the train stations etc can be packed for 2 weeks before and after the New Year (14th Feb)

This will be shortly after our arrival and we're looking for any tips on what/where the best festivals are? Are the accommodation prices jacked up a lot? Would it be best to just nip across to Japan for a week or so or is there something unmissable happening anywhere in the North?

Any advice is very much appreciated!

[whereishunter]

My advice for Chinese New Year is to get out of China. I find traveling around that time not that convenient/fun. But it can be done. The only thing you miss will be the fireworks which are interesting for about 5mins, but they go on for the whole day!!

Japan could be a good option, or Korea if you still want to be in the north. But I think heading to South East Asia to check out a beach is the better option.

[imron]

or is there something unmissable happening anywhere in the North?

Chinese New Year in China is very different from Chinese New Year as celebrated overseas. It's really like Christmas is in the west. Everything shuts down and everyone goes home to spend it with their family. If you don't know any Chinese people to spend Chinese New Year with over here, it can be a very underwhelming experience.

[gato]

Yes, except for fireworks going off 24 hours a day, it's pretty underwhelming. You'd be better off going to Thailand during the period.

[imron]

That gets tiring pretty quickly, especially if you can't find somewhere to buy fireworks of your own

[JenniferW]

There are peaks in the travelling over New Year, and if you travel before or after those, it will be easier. Look out for the student peak travel days, for example.

Also, think about travelling in the opposite direction to the one most people will be choosing. To some extent the whole country is being criss-crossed by people heading for home, but travel numbers are not as dense in all places and in all directions.

Think about mode of transport, too. You can book plane tickets further ahead than train tickets. Also, in the past it's seemed to me that local, smaller, buses run privately can be more flexible too, with companies able to switch the numbers of buses on particular routes to cope with the peak demand. And apart from New Year day itself, I've always found public transport operating, though that's the sort of thing to check out carefully beforehand.

And don't assume you'll be able to find a seat free in any restaurant open on New Year's eve without booking ahead!

[Lu]

Also, while trains are absolutely packed just before the new year with people going home, on the day of new year they are mostly empty (in my experience).

But yeah, it's not a festival that is celebrated outside and that you can easily join in on. Depending on where you are, it can be difficult to even find a place to eat. If you can be elsewhere at the time, it's best to do so, and come to China a few weeks later.

[Xiwang]

Yes, except for fireworks going off 24 hours a day, it's pretty underwhelming.

Chinese New Year in Beijing has been described by one writer as being the world's largest uncoordinated fireworks display. I love it!

Unless they change the rules for next year, you'll be able to buy stuff that will get you arrested most anywhere else in the world.

[sammie101]

Thanks guys!

This has all been very helpful! Slightly disappointed about ther absence of dancing lions and dragons and fireworks but I'm sure we'll have a lovely quick visit to Japan!

Cheers!