7 Chinese Cities with the Strongest New Year Atmosphere

Spring Festival is just around the corner! Are you looking for a place with a strong New Year atmosphere to enjoy the festive vibes? Here are 7 cities with the strongest New Year atmosphere in my opinion. Check them out! 1. 🏮 Beijing: New Year in the Capital As the capital of China, Beijing has a strong traditional New Year atmosphere. As soon as the twelfth lunar month begins, major temple fairs start to prepare, and the Changdian Temple Fair and Ditan Temple Fair are crowded with people. Here, you can see traditional performances such as dragon and lion dances and stilt walking, and intangible cultural heritage handicrafts such as sugar paintings and dough figurines. You can also enjoy authentic snacks such as stewed liver and fried liver. The Forbidden City is also decorated with festive palace lanterns, creating a festive atmosphere at night. Attractions: The Forbidden City, Changdian Temple Fair, Ditan Temple Fair. 2. 🌆 Xi'an: New Year in the Tang Dynasty Xi'an's Spring Festival is like traveling back to the Tang Dynasty. The New Year Lantern Festival on the ancient city wall lights up the city wall with colorful lanterns and exquisite Tang culture elements. The pedestrian street of the Great Tang All Day Mall is bustling with activity, with Miss Buyao interacting with tourists and ancient costume parades, as if walking in an ancient market. The Muslim Quarter is filled with the aroma of food, and New Year goods such as cured beef and zenggao are popular, creating a strong New Year atmosphere. Attractions: Xi'an City Wall, Great Tang All Day Mall, Muslim Quarter. 3. 🏮 Chengdu: New Year in the Land of Abundance Chengdu's Spring Festival is full of fireworks. The Wuhou Temple Fair has been passed down for many years, with traditional Sichuan folk customs and Three Kingdoms cultural performances. Jinli Ancient Street is decorated with red lanterns, and the aroma of hot pot fills the air. Families gather around the hot pot, creating a happy and lively atmosphere. The sound of playing mahjong and chatting can be heard in the streets and alleys, and tea houses are filled with people drinking tea and eating sunflower seeds, creating a leisurely New Year atmosphere. Attractions: Wuhou Temple, Jinli Ancient Street, Wenshu Monastery. 4. 🌆 Guangzhou: New Year in Lingnan Guangzhou's Spring Festival Flower Market is a major event, with streets filled with flowers and auspicious plants such as kumquat trees and peach blossoms. The Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street is decorated with lanterns, and traditional snack shops under the arcade buildings are bustling with activity, with the sweet aroma of Cantonese pastries such as water chestnut cake and radish cake. The New Year blessing activities at the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall allow you to experience the cultural heritage of Lingnan and the New Year atmosphere. Attractions: Guangzhou Flower Market, Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall. 5. 🏮 Hangzhou: New Year in the Water Town Hangzhou's Spring Festival is gentle and warm. The incense at Lingyin Temple is strong, and believers sincerely pray for peace in the new year. Hefang Street is full of ancient charm, with shops selling handicrafts such as paper-cutting and embroidery, and hot snacks such as Dingsheng cake and scallion pancakes. The fragrance of wintersweet fills the air by West Lake, and you can take a boat ride to enjoy the lake scenery. The pavilions and towers by the lake are decorated with red lanterns, creating a long-lasting New Year atmosphere in the water town. Attractions: Lingyin Temple, Hefang Street, West Lake. 6. 🌆 Harbin: New Year in the Ice City Harbin's Spring Festival is a collision of ice and snow and New Year customs. The ice sculptures at the Ice and Snow World are complemented by red lanterns, and the ice slides are filled with laughter. People still line up for the Madieer popsicles on Central Street, and the Russian-style buildings look even more romantic against the snow. In the rural snow town of Northeast China, every household hangs red lanterns and pastes Spring Festival couplets, and the kang is heated. The aroma of New Year's Eve dishes such as chicken stewed with mushrooms fills the air, and the spicy New Year atmosphere drives away the cold. Attractions: Ice and Snow World, Central Street, Snow Town. 7. 🏮 Pingyao: New Year in the Ancient City During the Spring Festival in Pingyao Ancient City, traditional folk performances are lively, with wonderful programs such as stilt walking and dry boat performances. The inns and residences in the ancient city are decorated with Spring Festival couplets and blessing characters, and the lights are bright. The ancient buildings such as Rishengchang Exchange House look even more simple under the red lanterns, and walking on the stone road is like returning to the glorious era of Shanxi merchants. The aroma of Pingyao beef and Pingyao bowl cake fills the air, creating a strong New Year atmosphere. Attractions: Pingyao Ancient City, Rishengchang Exchange House, Shuanglin Temple. These 7 cities have their own unique New Year atmosphere. Choose a place you like and experience the most authentic Spring Festival atmosphere, and start the new year with a lively New Year atmosphere.