Chinese New Year 2025

It marks the end of winter and the beginning of a new spring on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. This year, it's the Year of the Snake, representing wisdom, longevity and good fortune. It officially begins on 29 January, but as festivities run over many days and weeks, there are plenty of opportunity to get involved! Here are four destinations to visit for unforgettable Chinese New Year celebrations:

China's biggest city features everything from futuristic skyscrapers to traditional gardens, and New Year celebrations go on across this bustling metropolis for a full fortnight. Shanghai has excellent transport links, so it’s easier than you think to find your way around. Most of the traditional New Year rituals and events take place around People’s Square, Nanjing Road and the bars and clubs of The Bund which feature live musicians and dancers. Shanghai’s many temples mark the Spring Festival with fairs where visitors can enjoy cultural activities, performances, craft stalls and food.

A megacity of extraordinary sights, Beijing is a melting pot of ancient culture and modern energy, and the number of major sights to see in China’s capital makes it easy for visitors to create jam-packed itineraries and tick off multiple items on their bucket lists all in one trip. People flock from all over the world to celebrate Chinese New Year in Beijing, where festivals run for at least a week.

A city practically exploding with drama, Hong Kong’s towering skyline sits famously close to luscious green peaks, and the sheer scale and pace of daily life here will take your travelling experience to dizzy new heights. Naturally, Chinese New Year is the most important festival on the calendar, with the entire city of Hong Kong shutting down for several days and culminating in a spectacular fireworks display on Victoria Harbour.

The secret’s out, and Singapore has moved away from its reputation as simply a stopover destination, attracting visitors looking for all sorts of holidays. You can lose yourself in slick city living, with cutting-edge cuisine, trendy cocktail bars and a dazzling nightlife as easily as you can enjoy a lazy and luxurious beach holiday, with sun-drenched hotels and resorts along the sparkling coastline. At Chinese New Year, a visit to Gardens by the Bay is a must, where the futuristic garden feels even more fantastical adorned in CNY decorations.

Make sure you check opening hours. Lots of businesses, restaurants and shops in China have shorter opening hours during this time, with some even closing for the holiday, so keep an eye on opening hours. But don’t worry – despite reduced business hours, the city is busier and livelier than ever!

Find out more about flying from Manchester Airport to Shanghai, Beijing, and our other destinations to celebrate the Year of the Snake this Chinese New Year.