prateeksha Posted January 18, 2012 at 12:40 PM Report Posted January 18, 2012 at 12:40 PM Since I have planned my winter vacation around this event, I am really, really curious to know what are the best places in Beijing to be to celebrate the day. I do not wish to spend the evening watching CCTV, nor do I go to pubs/clubs. In such a case, where can the grand day be celebrated in a rather authentic style? Does the Olympic stadium have something special for the day? Is there any special place where fireworks are spectacular? Are the events held only on 23rd or after that as well? Quote
abcdefg Posted January 18, 2012 at 12:46 PM Report Posted January 18, 2012 at 12:46 PM ...where can the grand day be celebrated in a rather authentic style? So far as I've seen, it's mostly a family celebration. And after the big meal you light firecrackers and watch the show on CCTV together. Maybe also play mah jiang. Quote
XiaoXi Posted January 18, 2012 at 12:48 PM Report Posted January 18, 2012 at 12:48 PM The authentic way to celebrate it is to be at home with family on the day, cooking and eating nice things. Then at the stroke of midnight you can set off some firecrackers. Quote
WestTexas Posted January 18, 2012 at 12:57 PM Report Posted January 18, 2012 at 12:57 PM Go to the 工人体育场/三里屯 bar area. Plenty of foreigners will be there binge drinking, since no one has work and they are not with their Chinese families. I'm going there on the 30th, after the holiday. It's fun during Spring Festival - everyone is really drunk and there's no Chinese people around, just people from all over the globe partying. Quote
jbradfor Posted January 18, 2012 at 02:47 PM Report Posted January 18, 2012 at 02:47 PM everyone is really drunk and there's no Chinese people around, just people from all over the globe partying. Sounds like hell to me...... 4 Quote
Demonic_Duck Posted January 18, 2012 at 07:50 PM Report Posted January 18, 2012 at 07:50 PM Also pretty much the exact opposite of what the OP asked for. Quote
icebear Posted January 18, 2012 at 11:37 PM Report Posted January 18, 2012 at 11:37 PM I don't know exact dates this year, but you should try to find a rooftop to spend time on (ideally within the 2nd ring - but anywhere will work) and plan on spend the 10 minutes after midnight getting blinded. Before I was living on the east 4/5th ring area, high rise apartment, facing out east (away from the Beijing, toward the 6th ring) and even that fireworks show was jaw dropping from a volume point of view (not too sophisticated). Besides fireworks and parties I'd guess you're S.O.L. as a foreigner during that time - most Chinese will be with family, and most foreigners will be on holiday. Unless invited already I wouldn't hold out much hope for a invitation from a Chinese friend, and even then it might just be a evening watching the CCTV gala. Just out of curiosity, if a foreigner was coming to the US and asked what they might doing a NYE besides party or watch the ball drop on at Times Square (on TV)... well... Quote
imron Posted January 19, 2012 at 12:37 AM Report Posted January 19, 2012 at 12:37 AM Just out of curiosity, if a foreigner was coming to the US and asked what they might doing a NYE A better analogy was if they asked what they might be doing on Christmas Eve/Day. On New Year's you at least get revellers in the streets. As others have mentioned, in China during the Chinese New Year basically everything shuts down and everyone goes home. Besides the non-stop and completely random fireworks that everyone will be letting off everywhere you'll probably find not much of any sort of public celebrations, with the exception of the foreigners WestTexas mentioned above 1 Quote
heifeng Posted January 19, 2012 at 02:41 AM Report Posted January 19, 2012 at 02:41 AM New year 2012 Beijing - Where to be? Out of the line of fire for random fireworks, or, potentially setting them off yourself (*yikes*).Get yourself invited to a local Beijing friend's place or get a group together to create your own celebrate together AND stock up on food stat! b/c, FYI, everything suddenly closes (BJ sort of becomes a ghost town) and you may suddenly realize you may need to survive on left over mantou randomly found in the corner of your room for a few days*... *post inspired by actual events 1 Quote
wedge Posted January 19, 2012 at 03:21 AM Report Posted January 19, 2012 at 03:21 AM I spent CNY last year in Beijing with a friend's family and it was the most memorable part of my time in China. We didn't go anywhere special but the whole city (whole country?) is basically one big fireworks show. I would definitely buy some fireworks beforehand to set off so you don't feel left out. There are temporary stands set up on almost every block to sell them -- you can't miss them. 1 Quote
WestTexas Posted January 19, 2012 at 04:06 AM Report Posted January 19, 2012 at 04:06 AM Yeah I kind of realize my post was the opposite of what the OP asked for. But just go outside at 11:30pm on the 22nd. The sky is on fire in Beijing. One of the best nights of my lives was going barhopping on Chinese New Years Eve two years ago. As we walked to the bars there were fireworks flying all around us, lighting up the sky in different colors, and there was so much excitement in the air, from the noise and colors, from the unfettered cheer of the locals, and from the slight danger that one of the stray fireworks might hit us as my friends and I stumbled from our hotel to the bar. It was awesome. I hooked up with a girl that night too. It was great. Trust me, just go outside close to midnight on the 22nd. You don't have to go to the bars like I did, just step outside. You will get the cheer and atmosphere you are looking for. 1 Quote
prateeksha Posted January 23, 2012 at 01:27 PM Author Report Posted January 23, 2012 at 01:27 PM Thank you everybody for the suggestions. I understand the fact there's actually nothing very 'traditional/authentic" to do on the new year, unless being invited by a Chinese household to do in the city. A couple of friends went to 天安门 to watch the fireworks, some went to 地坛 庙会 this morning. I fortunately got invited by my half-Japanese, half-Chinese classmate's to her Chinese home. It was by far the most unforgettable experience I've had in Beijing. I was initially skeptical and to be honest, a bit scared to offend the hosts on this special occasion as I do not touch meat or alcohol. it was an extremely pleasant surprise to discover that the family especially prepared vegetable stuffing 饺子 for me and another vegetarian friend [who was also a guest]. The family was really warm to all of us. We watched CCTV together, 包ed 饺子, practices so much 口语, got impromptu Chinese lessons, learnt so much about the traditions associated with the day and saw a crazy display of fireworks bang at 12 am. Well I would say that all the texts about the great Chinese hospitality we study in our textbooks are actually true. I plan to attend a couple of 庙会over the next week, although I am not sure which ones will be the best [and lesser crowded] to attend. 2 Quote
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