Traveler Magazine Andrew Harper Traveler Summer 2019 | Page 47

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CHINESE
NEW YEAR
Chinese New Year isn’t just big; it’s
monumental—comprising the largest annual
human migration on the planet. Also referred
to as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, it
is technically 15 days, beginning on the first
of the lunar calendar in late January or early
February, depending on the year. If you’re
looking to participate in the fun, there are
dozens of destinations to do so. See the
UNESCO-listed shower of sparks in Nuanquan
town within China’s Hebei province, witness a
boisterous carnival in Singapore’s Chinatown
or partake in the fragrant festivities of Quang
Ba Flower Market in Hanoi, Vietnam. But
if you want to experience the mother of all
Chinese New Year celebrations, head to
China’s capital city.
For first-timers in China, Beijing’s Ditan Park
Temple Fair is a must. The opening ceremony
is an explosion of energy and a captivating
cultural celebration following the tradition
of Ming and Qing dynasties. Experience live
music and dance performances, shop for
handicrafts and traditional art and devour
street food from dozens of Chinese food stalls
serving up steaming hotpots, sizzling kebabs
and freshly folded dumplings. As dusk falls,
welcome in the New Year beneath a canopied
matrix of bright red lanterns, backed by a
night sky illuminated with one of the world’s
most elaborate firework displays.
PHOTOS
T O P : C H I N AT O W N , S I N G A P O R E
MIDDLE: CHINESE DRAGON DANCE
BOTTOM: CHINESE LANTERNS
ANDREWHARPERTRAVEL.COM
SUMMER | 2019