Can you see it, galumphing over the horizon? A giant red sheep, grinning from fleecy ear to ear. Yes, the Year of the Sheep is almost upon us, so we’ve come up with these handy holiday hacks to help ewe get the most out of CNY in the ‘jing.
Hack 1: How To Watch Things Blow Up Without Getting Killed
One of China’s most amazing experiences, the free-for-all of fireworks and firecrackers reaches its deafening crescendo approaching midnight on New Year’s Eve (February 18). Where should you be for the best of the action?
Awesome places to watch fireworks
- Apartment between floors 5 and 15 that faces inwards on to its own courtyard area (if there are fire extinguishers dotted about, you know it’s gonna be good)
- Frozen public lakes, e.g. Houhai (also handy for the local bars before and after)
- Major road junctions – cars be damned, folks will shoot fireworks from any sizeable bit of open ground
Rubbish places to watch fireworks
- Anywhere very central or near government buildings as there might be restrictions
- In narrow or tree-shaded hutongs
- Close to flammable or incendiary material
- In bed, asleep
And a few firework-related micro-hacks…
- Missed New Year’s Eve? Other major fireworks days are the fifth of the lunar month (February 23) and Lantern Festival (March 5)
- Worried about bangs? Buy earplugs (7-11, Watsons)
- Don’t cycle around after dark – sidewalks are prime firework launching pads
- Leather gloves and jackets = simple safety gear
- Set your camera to “night mode” or “fireworks mode” – or better yet, use a tripod and a 1 to 2 second exposure
Hack 2: How To Have A Hassle-Free, Cheap Vacation in China (yes, really)
Folks will warn you to avoid domestic travel at all during Chinese New Year. But if you fly on certain days – between February 20 and 23, when offices are closed and Chinese families hunker down together – it can be extremely cheap with hardly any passengers. Perfect for a quick getaway to cities where there are plenty of daily connections like Shanghai. Check prices a few days before.
Hack 3: How To Fill Your Festive Face (In a City Where Everything’s Closed)
New Year’s Eve (February 18) is all about jioazi, or boiled dumplings, the must-eat dish for families and friends. It’s increasingly common to eat the “reunion feast” in restaurants, and the best places will already be booked up. But never fear – jiaozi are dead easy to make if you buy the pastry ready rolled (jiaozi pi) from a noodle shop / stall. We asked Lu Jie, organiser of the weekly Jiaozi Cooking Class at The Orchid, for her secret dumpling shortcut:
Lu Jie’s Pork and Cabbage Dumplings Trick
“The great thing with this easy approach is you don’t need to measure anything, because you can keep fine-tuning as you go. First, finely chop a cabbage and 1 jin (500g) of minced pork. Mix in a large bowl with soy sauce and sesame oil, salt, minced ginger, and minced leek. Next, wrap a couple of jiaozi and boil them in a large pan for 10 minutes (or until they float to the surface of the water). Taste and then adjust the seasonings in the main mix and repeat if necessary until it tastes perfect – then get wrapping (makes about 50-60).”
For the rest of the holiday period (and sometimes much longer), restaurants all over the city will be shuttered up. If you’re struggling to find something to chow, here are some micro hacks:
Hotels Are Your Holiday Friend – For big hotels, the show must go on. This could be the perfect time to try the fabulous Country Kitchen at the new Rosewood Hotel. Jing Yaa Tang in the Opposite House is also going all out with a CNY set menu that includes Peking duck and a dozen other dishes, available until the festivities cease on March 5. And we all know how good their dim sum is…
Hey, Just Don’t Eat – Come on, if you’ve just spent a December of festive feasting, do you really deserve another blowout so soon? #justsaying
Hack 4: How To Party Like a Local (If You’re Not One)
Fireworks aside, there’s loads to do day-by-day over Spring Festival. Check out this post for a rundown of what to do and when to do it. The dates are from last year but the rules are the same.
And here’s a link about Temple Fairs in Beijing and beyond for 2015.
Finally, a few more micro hacks to max out your happiness at Chinese New Year:
- Put 100 RMB in a red envelope for your neighbour’s / ayi’s / local shopkeeper’s grandkid or kid
- Don’t cry on February 19 or you’ll be crying all year long (you big baby)
- Clean your apartment before February 19 but DON’T clean on New Year’s Day itself or you’ll sweep away all the good fortune
- Holler “gōng xǐ fā cái” at anyone and everyone (congratulations and be prosperous) … if you’re feeling cheeky, afterwards add: “hóng bāo ná lái” (now show me the money)
A bit of insider knowledge goes a long way – our Savvy City Kit is your key to unlocking the best of Beijing, whenever you’re in town. Click here to find out more.
About the author: Tom O’Malley is Propaganda Secretary at Bespoke Beijing. A lifestyle journalist, guidebook author, glutton and bon vivant, Tom is a tireless crusader for fine food, hospitality and tourist experiences in China’s capital.