Top 10 Foods to Have on Chinese New Year

Spring Festival is the most important holiday in China, and of course what people eat during this time is just as important. To celebrate Chinese New Year, families prepare a big feast to share with their loved ones. While food traditions vary a bit between the north and south in China, many of the dishes are actually quite similar.

So, if you're planning to experience Spring Festival in China and want a sneak peek at what's on the table, or if you're simply curious about Chinese food culture, this article will give you a good idea of the dishes people love most during the New Year.

Chinese New Year Dinner

Dumplings

Dumplings with sauce

Eating dumplings on the first day of the Lunar New Year is a Spring Festival tradition. Since dumplings are shaped like ancient gold ingots, eating them symbolizes wealth and prosperity.

On New Year's Eve, people enjoy making dumplings together with their families, then cooking and eating them on New Year's morning as a sign of reunion.There are many types of fillings to choose from depending on personal taste, usually a mix of meat and vegetables, such as cabbage and pork, corn and pork, or shrimp. If you don't eat meat, there are also vegetarian options, like tofu dumplings.

Whole Fish

Steamed fish

In Chinese, the word for "fish" sounds like the word for "surplus," so eating fish during the New Year symbolizes having an abundance of wealth and food every year.

At New Year's Eve dinner, fish can be prepared in many ways, such as steamed fish or braised fish. Steamed fish is usually cooked whole without side ingredients and topped with a soy sauce–based dressing after it's done. Braised fish, on the other hand, is cut into pieces and cooked with tofu or vegetables.

Whole Chicken

Traditional poached chicken

Chinese people enjoy eating chicken during festivals, especially in the south. The word for "chicken" sounds like the word for "auspicious" in Chinese, symbolizing good luck.

There are many ways to prepare it, with common methods including cutting it into pieces to make chicken soup, or seasoning it to make poached chicken or roasted chicken.

Niangao (Glutinous Rice Cake)

Chinese New Year rice cake

"Niangao," or New Year cake, symbolizes rising higher year after year in Chinese. It is a sweet made from glutinous rice flour and brown sugar, sometimes with flavors like black sesame, and often garnished with red jujubes, dried longan, or peanuts for good taste and appearance.

Niangao is somewhat similar to a birthday cake, and it's often made in a cylindrical shape. To eat it, you slice it into small pieces, pan-fry until both sides are golden and crispy, and then it's ready to serve.

Chinese Sausage & Dried Meat

Chinese Sausage & Dried Meat

Every winter, especially about a month before the Spring Festival, many Chinese families buy large amounts of pork, fish, or duck to make traditional Chinese-style sausages and cured meats. During the New Year, these sausages and cured meats are sliced, steamed, and served as a dish. Like eating fish, this custom symbolizes having abundant food every year.

Most sausages are savory with a mix of fat and lean meat, though in some regions sweet sausages are also made. Steaming brings out their rich aroma, and some households add pepper, chili powder, or other spices. Cured pork and duck are usually prepared in a suitable size, rubbed with seasonings, then hung to air-dry, later cut into pieces and cooked for the New Year.

Spring Rolls

Fried spring rolls

As its name suggests, eating spring rolls during the Spring Festival symbolizes welcoming spring, the revival of all things, and a fresh new beginning. Because spring rolls are long, thin, and fried to a golden crisp, resembling gold bars, they also represent wealth.

The fillings of New Year spring rolls vary between southern and northern China. In the south, they are often made with flavorful ingredients like pork, scallions, and mushrooms, along with spices. In the north, the traditional filling is sweet red bean paste, though in recent years taro paste and other fillings popular among younger people have also become common.

Eight Treasure Rice Pudding

Eight Treasures Rice Pudding is a dessert made with glutinous rice, red dates, lotus seeds, walnuts, peanuts, raisins, and other dried fruits and nuts. It symbolizes family reunion and prosperity, carrying the wish for a sweet life in the coming year.

The dried fruits are first arranged decoratively in a round bowl, then filled with glutinous rice and steamed. Once cooked, it is inverted onto a plate, taking on a round shape.

Longevity Noodles

A bowl of noodles in clear broth

In southern Fujian, a region along China's southeast coast, the first meal on the first day of the Lunar New Year is Longevity Noodles. The long, unbroken noodles symbolize longevity and peace.

Locals enjoy cooking the noodles in a clear broth or pairing them with various meats and vegetables for a delicious flavor. You can also choose your own additions according to your preference.

Fresh Fruits

Sweet and slightly tangy orange

Fresh fruit is an essential part of Chinese New Year celebrations. Many fruits are especially popular because their names sound similar to auspicious words, giving them symbolic meanings. For example, oranges represent good luck, apples symbolize peace, pears stand for smooth progress, and pomelos signify family reunion. In addition, strawberries and dragon fruit are also favorites—their bright red skins are seen as symbols of prosperity and good fortune.

Snacks & Nuts

Shiny red tanghulu

About a week before the Lunar New Year, right around Little New Year, families usually head to the market to stock up on festive treats. You'll see stalls piled high with candies, nuts, and fresh fruits. These aren't just for munching on at home - they're also a must for welcoming relatives and friends who drop by starting from the second day of the New Year.

Some sweets are real favorites during this time. You'll often spot gold coin–shaped chocolates, and even melon-shaped maltose candies that you crack open and share with the family.

And of course, if you take a stroll down the street, you'll come across those festive classics that just scream "New Year," like shiny red tanghulu - candied hawthorns on a stick.

Visit China During Spring Festival

If you're planning to visit China during the Spring Festival, it's important to make your plans and bookings in advance. Even though winter is generally the low season in China, travel during the holiday can get hectic as millions of people head home to reunite with family or take trips within the country.

By planning ahead with us, we'll take care of everything for you and make sure you enjoy a hassle-free Spring Festival trip in China. Simply contact us online or send an email to trip@odynovotours.com to receive your personalized itinerary and quote.