Kosupa Travel

While countries around the world have their unique New Year traditions – from countdown events to festive celebrations – more people are choosing to travel abroad for the occasion. Today, I’ll share my experience of celebrating New Year’s Eve in Shanghai, China. To be direct: I wouldn’t particularly recommend planning a trip specifically for December 31st celebrations in China, and I’ll explain why.

New Year’s Eve & Chinese New Year in China

In China, the most important New Year celebration is the Lunar New Year, known as “Spring Festival” (春节). The date changes annually – in 2024, it fell on January 22nd. Spring Festival comes with a week-long holiday when families gather for grand celebrations.

In contrast, December 31st isn’t particularly significant in China. Most people work normally around this time, and the atmosphere is notably more subdued compared to Western New Year celebrations.

My Shanghai New Year’s Eve Experience

I decided to experience the New Year’s countdown at The Bund (Waitan / 外滩), one of Shanghai’s most famous tourist spots. The Bund is known for its spectacular view of modern skyscrapers, including Shanghai Tower, making it a popular tourist destination.

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Hearing about a potential countdown event, I headed to the location with high expectations. Indeed, security guards were directing large crowds toward The Bund.

Anticipating drone shows or fireworks, I waited for about an hour. However, as midnight approached, no one seemed to be counting down. I wondered if I was even in the right place, though I was certain I was.

When midnight finally struck, the skyscrapers began to sparkle with lights. Just when I thought something more might happen, it became clear that the light show was the main event. While the entire Bund transformed into a sparkling paradise, there were no fireworks or major events as expected.

People dispersed without much excitement, treating it more like a casual neighborhood event than a major celebration. This perfectly illustrated how December 31st celebrations in China differ significantly from Western New Year traditions.

The reason, as mentioned earlier, is that Spring Festival is the main event in China. It’s similar to how Lunar New Year isn’t widely celebrated in Western countries. The night ended with a challenging quest to find a taxi through the crowds, finally making it back to the hotel in an exhausted state.

An Interesting Experience Nonetheless

While I hadn’t originally planned to spend New Year’s Eve in Shanghai (it happened due to a transit mishap), looking back, it was a fascinating cultural experience. It provided firsthand insight into how the Western New Year isn’t a major event in Chinese culture, and I even got to enjoy some delicious Shanghai crab.

The next morning, I visited Jing’an Temple. While it wasn’t my planned way to start the new year, beginning it abroad turned out to be an unexpectedly enriching experience.

Choose Spring Festival for the Best Chinese New Year Experience

While my experience was interesting, if you want to experience New Year celebrations in China, I highly recommend visiting during Spring Festival instead of December 31st. Spring Festival is China’s biggest celebration, with cities coming alive with festivities, impressive fireworks, and parades.

As demonstrated, the Western New Year’s countdown in China lacks the excitement many might expect. However, Spring Festival offers a genuine opportunity to experience Chinese culture and traditions. If you’re interested, plan your visit during Spring Festival for an authentic Chinese New Year experience.