10 Best Places for Chinese New Year in China 2026

The Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is a time of joy, renewal, and celebration. It's the beginning of the lunar new year. Celebrations are held everywhere in China. From vibrant parades to spectacular fireworks displays, the festivities are an enchanting spectacle to behold. In this article, we've prepared a list of the top 10 places to celebrate the Spring Festival in China!

A Chinese New Year decoration

Beijing

Chinese opera actors are praying for prosperity during the Lunar New Year

Beijing, one of the cities that has the best Chinese cultural atmosphere, is undoubtedly the perfect place to celebrate the Spring Festival. Chinese knots and red lanterns, among other customary decorations, will line the streets as the holiday draws near. Even the posters in subway stations will feature lunar new year themes.

One of the highlights in Beijing that we highly recommend is temple fairs, which display traditional activities for the lunar new year, such as Beijing opera, acrobatics performances, and traditional lion dances. People believes attending temple fairs could bring you good luck for the whole year. So do not miss out on this opportunity to get a real taste of it. We would suggest the Ditan Temple Fair and the Longtan Park Temple Fair, as they are considered the most classic ones.

Hong Kong

Victoria Harbor, a good place to celebrate the lunar new year.

Wondering why Hong Kong is a good place to celebrate the Spring Festival? You may find the answer here. The celebration in Hong Kong is a mixture of modernization and traditional cultures. On the first day of the lunar new year, you can attend the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade, which is famous for the amazing floats with traditional Chinese themes. On the second day, you can watch the blazing fireworks show for the lunar new year at Victoria Harbor. What's more, Hong Kong has a lot of famous dishes and snacks. You can enjoy the delicious food before getting ready for the events.

Harbin

Buildings made of ice brick in Harbin Ice and Snow World

Different from the places we mentioned above, the Spring Festival in Harbin is always accompanied by ice and snow. If you enjoy snow views, Harbin is your best place to celebrate the lunar new year. The biggest event during the lunar New Year is the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival.

People would celebrate both of these two festivals in Harbin Ice and Snow World, a park full of amazing ice sculptures. The theme of the park changes every year; basically, it's the zodiac animal of the year. You can find traditional Chinese temples built with ice blocks. And you can enjoy the dance on ice and fireworks shows for the lunar new year.

A gentle reminder: If you're heading to Harbin Ice and Snow World, you may need to put on more clothes than you do outside of the park. To keep the ice solid, the temperature inside the park is significantly lower than outside.

Xi'an

Xi'an Ancient City Wall with red lanterns

Xi'an is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China. During the Spring Festival, its streets, especially the Ancient City Wall, the Drum Tower, and other landmarks in the city center, are adorned with colorful lanterns and traditional Chinese decorations. This transforms Xi'an into a city that feels as if it has stepped out of a history book, immersing you in the atmosphere of celebrating Spring Festival in China hundreds of years ago.

The most recommended thing to do in Xi'an during Spring Festival is admiring the lanterns displayed on the Ancient City Wall. Usually, it will last about 3 weeks, from a week before the Chinese New Year to the Lantern Festival.

Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Guangzhou is also a great city to visit during the Chinese New Year. Located in southern China, it enjoys relatively warm weather, which makes it ideal for growing flowers and plants. During the holiday, people buy a wide variety of flowers and greenery to decorate their homes, so Guangzhou's lively flower markets become a highlight of the season.

At these flower fairs, you can learn why locals favor certain plants. For example, in Cantonese, the word for "orange" sounds similar to the word for "lucky," so people often buy small orange trees to decorate their homes in the hope of bringing good fortune. Likewise, chrysanthemums, especially white and yellow ones - are popular because their colors resemble gold and silver, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.

Chongqing

Admire Hongya Cave from a far distance

Chongqing is also a wonderful city to visit during the Chinese New Year. Located in southwestern China, it is famous for its mountainous landscapes and dramatic river views. Winter in Chongqing is usually damp and chilly, which makes it the perfect season to enjoy the city's signature hot pot.

During the holiday, locals love to gather with family and friends around a steaming pot of spicy broth, creating a festive and heartwarming atmosphere. Landmarks such as Hongya Cave and riverside of Yangtze River are decorated with colorful lanterns. In addition, there are traditional performances, such as dragon and lion dances, temple fairs, and fireworks and snacks at Bayi Street, adding a lively cultural touch to the city.

Shanghai

Our client is attending the Spring Festival event at Yu Garden.

Even though Shanghai is highly developed, many age-long customs are still well preserved and practiced. Therefore, you can expect activities reflecting both the traditional and modern sides of people's daily lives, especially during the lunar new year.

The tranquil Yu Garden and City Old Temple will become an active stage for traditional lantern shows. Basically, there are three main kinds of shapes for these lanterns: classic shapes, zodiac animals of the year, and elements that have special meanings in Chinese, such as lotus and fish. People believe that attending lantern shows can help ward off bad luck and celebrate reunions. So it's really worth visiting.

Chengdu

Pandas are having their meals at the giant panda research center.

The Spring Festival is all about family, and what better way to celebrate than with an activity that delights all ages? Watching pandas play and interact is a joyful experience for children and adults alike. Also, pandas are considered symbols of peace, friendship, and good fortune in Chinese culture. Chengdu has the biggest Panda Research Center, and it stays open during the whole festival. Celebrating the lunar new year with pandas will leave you with an unforgettable memory.

After that, you can head to a theater and enjoy Bian Lian, the art of face-changing. During the Spring Festival, there are many Bian Lian performances in Chengdu. Bian Lian is a unique feature of Chinese Sichuan opera. Performers dress in vibrant, theatrical costumes with colorful masks that portray the character's inner thoughts and feelings. Like a magic show, performers can quickly alter the masks on their faces in the blink of an eye.

Yunnan

Dali Ancient Town in Dali, Yunnan

The surviving ancient towns in Yunnan feature something more special than usual throughout the Spring Festival. Various ethnic minority groups in Yunnan, such as the Naxi, Yi, Bai, and Dai, have their own unique traditions to celebrate the Chinese New Year, which attract tourists from around the world.

There will be bonfire parties, singing, and dancing in different towns and villages in Dali and Lijiang during the holiday, and you are welcome to join in the festivities with the locals. After that, you can take part in other cultural activities, such as lighting up water lanterns by the river to make a wish, or watching colorful folk performances that showcase the province's diverse heritage.

Taiwan

People go to the marketplace for accessories and food.

Just one or two weeks before the Spring Festival, people in Taiwan flock to visit the famous Dihua Street in Taipei. You can find accessories for the lunar new year here, including red lanterns, paper cuttings, and door couplets. You can also have a taste of delicious food here, such as bubble tea, oyster omelettes, etc. Wander around the marketplace to feel the atmosphere, and you may get a chance to learn about how people celebrate the festival in Taiwan.

If you plan to stay in Taiwan until the Lantern Festival, the last day of the Chinese New Year vacation, get ready for another series of festive activities. Releasing paper lanterns into the sky in New Taipei's Pingxi district and visiting the themed lantern exhibitions at the Taipei Expo Park are good choices to finish your Spring Festival tour.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year With Us

The Chinese New Year in 2026 starts on February 17th. Let's start to plan your trip to China right away! Write to trip@odynovotours.com or contact us with a simple click for a customized tour, and our experts will plan everything for you.