LIST: Best Places To Celebrate Chinese New Year for Tradition and Culture

Home to over a million Filipino-Chinese nationalities, the Philippines is one of the many countries who celebrate the Chinese New Year.

The community gathers every year to celebrate the also called Lunar New Year and Spring Festival as it marks the turn of the Chinese lunisolar calendar.

Also read: Chinese New Year Traditions in the Philippines

The street along lucky Chinatown are embellished with colorful sky lanterns symbolizing wishes for the future

Chinese New Year is always marked as a Special Non-Working Holiday in the Philippines as a sign of respect to the Chinese communities and traditions.

And while not everyone in the country celebrates it the way Chinese people do, there are a lot of activities around the Metro you might want to try this coming Chinese New Year to experience their culture and tradition! Here, we’ve listed down a few places where you can celebrate Chinese New Year this 2019.

Day Trip at Binondo

Binondo Manila is also known as the Chinatown of the Philippines.

• Visit the Filipino Chinese Taoist Temple of Manila at El Cano Street and experience traditional Filipino-Chinese religion by meditation, praying, lighting candles, and food offerings.
• Afterward, stroll along Ongpin Street and get your Chinese cuisines and delicacies here! The famous hopia from Eng Bee Tin is just along the streets, as well as everyone’s favorite tikoy!
• Make sure to also catch the lion and dragon dance along Ongpin street and dance your heart out for prosperity, good health and success!
• Don’t forget to stop by the world’s largest Chinatown arch—Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch—just along the Quintin Paredes Road!
• Walk or drive along the same road from the friendship arch and turn to Plaza Ruiz, where the Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish also known as Binondo Church is located.
• Afterward, go ahead and explore the rich Chinese influence around Binondo through a Chinatown Food Crawl!

Chinatown Food Crawl

Chinatown is like a Chinese festival waiting to be explored. Situated as it is in the bosom of the “oldest Chinatown in the world”, it offers a vast array of restaurants, wellness centers, spas, temples, and other establishments that you and your family can visit. Here are a few of the restaurants you can check out!

Also read: Chinatown: A Hub of History and Culinary Adventure

Taste Cantonese, Japanese, Korean and Filipino-Chinese cuisines at Chinatown

Also read: Chinatown Food Finds: A Guide to Chinese Restaurants in Binondo

Located inside Lucky China Mall, you’ll find Shi Lin, a Cantonese restaurant serving the signature dim sum called Xiao Long Bao. These steamed dumplings are best partnered with soy sauce and vinegar!

If you’re looking for a different cuisine, head onto the third floor and get your Japanese and Korean Cravings at Mitasu Charcoal Yakiniku! Enjoy grilled meats and sashimis here.

Going out, just along Benavidez St., there’s a bowl of simmering mami noodle at Masuki Mami House—one of the most popular and oldest noodles and dim sum restaurant in town.

Another food that we associate into Chinese cuisines is what we call asado. Located in Ongpin St. is the home of Salido or cuapao (open-faced siopao). This restaurant offers their famed asado, a sweet pork Chinese dish that’s best with rice or with steamed buns.

Also read: How to Spend a Day at Lucky Chinatown in Binondo

Davao Chinatown

As the only Chinatown found in Mindanao, Davao Chinatown is the main residential area of the Chinese community in the region. This 44-hectare Chinatown extends to Santana Avenue, Monteverde Avenue, Ramon Magsaysay Street, and Leon Garcia Street.

Four archways can be seen in the city, namely, The Arch of Prosperity in Uyanguren, The Arch of Unity near Magsaysay Park, The Arch of Peace in Sta. Ana Avenue, and the Arch of Friendship near Jones Circle.

All these can be reached through a jeepney ride, or you can also walk if you want to.

Also read: Chinatown in Davao

Mall Events

Spring Film Festival

One of the most celebrated festivals in the Filipino-Chinese community is back this year, with more films about love, family, culture, and community promoting Chinese culture and language to the Philippine community! The 13th Spring Film Festival will feature seven full-length films and will run from January 30, 2019 to February 5, 2019 at Red Carpet in Shangri-La Plaza.

To further celebrate culture as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, Shangri-La Plaza will also present Chinese Costumes on the Catwalk, a fashion show showcasing traditional Chinese attire this January 30, 2019 and a Chinese Painting Workshop at the Grand Atrium for those who want to dabble in the delicate art.

Also read: 13th Spring Film Festival: Bridging Filipino and Chinese Community Through Art and Films

Chinese New Year Lucky Run

AffiniTea Races, in cooperation with SM by The Bay, presents an exciting welcoming event for the beginning of the traditional Chinese calendar in the Chinese New Year Lucky Run 2019 at SM by The Bay this February 5.

 

Adding to the fun celebration are the free Tikoy giveaways, a grand fireworks display, and a dragon dance performance for the guests to enjoy!

Also read: AffiniTea Races’ Chinese New Year Lucky Run 2019 is Happening this February 5

Hotels

 Unli Dimsum at Jasmine New World Makati

With many Chinese restaurants cropping up in the country, the classic dim sum has become a quite accessible dish for many foodies out there. In fact, this mouthful steamed light meal is enough to make us drool the moment we see it being served in our favorite restaurant.

Excitingly, you can chow down on your favorite dim sum as many as your tummy wants with an unlimited offer from Jasmine at New World Makati Hotel. Indulge in a real Chinese lunch with unlimited dim sum until April 30, 2019.

Also read: PROMO: Enjoy Unli Dim Sum from Jasmine at New World Makati

New World Makati

Welcome the Year of the Earth Pig with an auspicious celebration at New World Makati Hotel! 

Feel lucky this Lunar New Year with special gifts from New World Makati such as the Chinese New Year kit, which includes a feng shui diary from the Yin and Yang Shop of Harmony and ang pao with The Shop voucher worth Php 888.

Also read: PROMO: Check Out These Deals from New World Makati Hotel This Chinese New Year!

Holiday Inn’s Chinese Food Festival.

Start a prosperous new year stuffed with authentic Chinese eats with Holiday Inn’s Chinese Food Festival. Enjoy dishes from all-over China on all weekends of February at the Flavors Restaurant. Guests can look forward to a new Chinese cuisine every weekend, starting with Hunan on February 1.

Also read: PROMO: Celebrate Chinese New Year at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati!

City of Dreams’ Stunning Promos for the Chinese New Year

City of Dreams Manila participates with the annual celebration of the Year of the Earth Pig by unloading a barrage of activities, which will be held along The Shops at the Boulevard, and offering new menu specialties, specifically from ace restaurants, Crystal Dragon and Red Ginger.

Sofitel Manila’s Recipes for Prosperity

Celebrate the Chinese New Year 2019 with Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila as they offer Recipes for Prosperity, an array of delectable Chinese dishes starting from February 4 to 8, 2019 at the Spiral restaurant.

Also read: Welcome the Year of the Earth Pig with Sofitel Manila’s Recipes for Prosperity

The Alpha Suites

The Alpha Suites has something luxurious for you this February! Celebrate love and fortune with their ultimate packages, just in time for the Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day.

Image from the Alpha Suites 

Jumpstart the Year of the Pig with their special Lunar New Year package for only Php 7,650+from February 1 to 5. This includes a special in-room setup, a complimentary box of tikoy, as well as access to the Lion and Dragon Dance show on February 4.

Also read: Celebrate Love and Fortune at The Alpha Suites This February!

Planning a quick trip this Chinese New Year? Leave us a comment below and let us know if you’ll be visiting Binondo this CNY! Kiong Hee Huat Tsai everyone!

Also read: Chinese New Year Traditions in the Philippines