Chinese New Year

Celebrated on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar, this major annual event is known as the Spring Festival by the Chinese, and is normally said to last until the Lantern Festival fifteen days later. There is a week's public holiday, and all manner of public and private celebrations. Highlights include the Temple Fairs that take place in temples and parks all over the city. Beware, China's infrastructure is stretched to its limits during this period, as 1.3 billion people strive to spend the festive period with their families.

Chinese New Year is by far the most important holiday in the Middle Kingdom's calendar, followed by the Mid- Autumn Festival, National Day and the NBA Finals. Even though the Spring Festival celebration only lasts a few days, including New Year's Eve, the season traditionally lasts 15 days, truncated from the month- long celebration observed in traditional (pre- 1949) times.

In one version of the story, an immortal god persuaded the Nian to prey on other animals in the kingdom and leave the humans be. Not trusting the beast, however, the god instructed men and women to burn bamboo to keep the monster at bay.

Hours: Vary

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Contact Information

Chinese New Year
Various locations across the city
100007 Beijing,SHI

Tel. +861081191011

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