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Chinese New Year is celebrated through family meals, greetings, visits and public events rather than one fixed checklist. Customs vary by region and household, and many family rites are private. This guide explains common activities and how a visitor can participate respectfully. Start with the Chinese New Year overview for dates and festival context.
From New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival
The reunion dinner on Lunar New Year's Eve is one of the season's most important family occasions. People may travel long distances to attend, while others gather earlier, meet online or celebrate with friends because of work, health or distance. A visitor should not expect access to a private meal unless invited.
Menus vary widely. Dumplings are prominent in many northern households; whole fish, niangao, tangyuan, poultry, hot pot and local dishes appear elsewhere. Symbolism is often based on wordplay or shape, but no dish guarantees fortune. The Chinese New Year food guide explains regional meanings and dietary considerations.
Learn more about lucky foods served during Chinese New Year.
The CCTV Spring Festival Gala is an annual New Year's Eve television program featuring music, dance, opera, comedy and other performances. The modern broadcast tradition began in 1983. Some families watch attentively, others keep it on during dinner, and many choose online or local entertainment instead.
Its nationwide broadcast, long running time and mix of performance genres give Chūnwǎn a shared reference point. Popularity does not mean universal approval or viewing. Travelers can watch excerpts to understand contemporary festival media, while recognizing that jokes and language may depend on current cultural context.
Red envelopes, hóngbāo, carry wishes for wellbeing and are commonly given by older or married relatives to children and younger family members. Amounts depend on relationship and family custom. Visitors should ask the host before giving money, and digital transfers should be made only through secure, familiar payment tools. Learn more about sending red envelopes digitally in China.
Mahjong, card games and conversation can fill long family gatherings, but gambling laws and household attitudes matter. Do not describe mahjong itself as “small-scale gambling”: it is a game that may be played socially without money. Join only when invited and ask about the rules before the first hand.
Firecrackers are connected with festive noise and the folk story of Nian, but many cities restrict or prohibit private use for safety, fire prevention and air quality. Rules can change by district and year. Attend authorized displays rather than buying or setting off fireworks without local confirmation.
Learn more about the Nian legend and the folklore associated with festive noise.
The Following Days
New Year visits, bàinián, usually combine greetings, tea, snacks and gifts. The order and timing vary; modern families coordinate around work and travel instead of following one national day-by-day schedule. If invited, arrive when requested, bring a modest gift and read the Chinese New Year preparation guide before planning transport.
Temple fairs developed from religious and market gatherings and now often combine folk performance, crafts, food and games. Beijing is well known for them, while other cities have different formats. Annual venues, ticketing and crowd controls change, so verify the official organizer rather than relying on an old list.
Learn more about public New Year events in Hong Kong and other cities through current local listings.
Lion and dragon dances are distinct performance traditions used at community celebrations and business openings. The lion costume is normally operated by two performers, while a long dragon is carried by a team. Watch from behind barriers, avoid blocking performers and ask before photographing backstage preparation.
The Lantern Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and traditionally closes the New Year season. Lantern viewing, riddles and tangyuan or yuanxiao are common associations, but events differ by city. For travelers, the practical task is to verify timed-entry rules, transport extensions and crowd controls. Enjoy public displays without assuming that every family observes the same ending ritual.
