Live Your Best Lives
Every Lunar New Year, you're sure to hear the sentiment, "The New Year's flavor is fading." Actually, it's not that the flavor has faded; it's that it's become increasingly hidden. In our concrete-heavy cities, the ambiance of everyday life is gradually fading. To recapture the old New Year vibe, head out to these places! Lively, traditional, festive, and delicious...there's something for everyone!
People always say that when it snows, Nanjing becomes Jinling. In fact, when the lights are turned on, Nanjing will also become Jinling.
"Qinhuai Lantern Festival is the best in the world" - Nanjing Qinhuai Lantern Festival is the only large-scale comprehensive lantern festival in China that integrates lantern exhibition, lantern festival and lantern market. It is also the largest folk lantern festival in the country.
It's said that this year's event will be even more exciting thanks to technology! There will also be a lantern lighting event with thousands of people, a Ming Dynasty costume show, folk bands, new rap, a New Year's shopping street, and more. It's packed with exciting highlights!
Modern Nanjing and ancient Jinling appear before your eyes at the same time at this moment. This feeling is unforgettable.
During the Lantern Festival, a variety of cultural activities were arranged. In addition to a number of excellent traditional cultural programs of Lishui such as "jumping horse lanterns and performing community fire shows", there were also national intangible cultural heritage projects such as the Luoshan Dragon Parade, as well as lantern riddles, folk calligraphers writing couplets, and food exhibitions.
1.5 hours from Hangzhou, there is a low-key and unpretentious food town in western Zhejiang, close to Quzhou. It uses the water of Qiandao Lake for irrigation and the water of Xin'an River for food, and is a small town with tempting spicy and delicious flavors - Jiande.
There is an ancient city wall built in the shape of a plum blossom along the river in the small town, and it is called "Meicheng". As the saying goes, "There are two and a half plum blossoms in the world, one in Beijing, one in Nanjing, and half in Yanzhou (Meicheng).
Meicheng's snacks and delicacies are representative of Jiande's flavors. During the New Year, Meicheng's New Year Street offers a chance to sample all of Jiande's specialties, including Yanzhou crispy cakes, Sandu glutinous rice cakes, Datong meatballs, lotus corn cakes, Meicheng handmade noodles, and Yandongguan Wujiapi wine. Whether it's the fresh fish in a restaurant or the unique snacks in the corners, you'll crave them even if they're so spicy they'll make you cry!
Besides snacks, Jiande's signature river seafood, Sandu Fishing Village, is located at the confluence of the Xin'an, Lan, and Fuchun Rivers, a pristine, unspoiled feng shui treasure. Despite being called a fishing village, the air is surprisingly free of any fishy odor, and the water quality of the three rivers is so excellent that the fish are so delicious they're completely free of any fishy smell.
Fishermen have set up "Fisherman's Inn" near the mountains and rivers, allowing tourists to fish, row boats, fish with fishermen, listen to ancient operas in the fishing village, and watch weddings on the water. "Be a fisherman for a day, taste game, and have a fish feast."
Tongli Folk Lantern Festival is a famous Spring Festival event in Suzhou. At the beginning of the new year, from the first to the fifth day, the first thing that the faithful men and women from all over Tongli have to do is to rush to the "Nanguan" fulcrum Arhat in the southwest of the ancient town to pray for peace in all seasons.
At night, several natural villages in the suburbs unite for a night party, where dragon lanterns dance to the accompaniment of gongs and drums, creating a magnificent and unique scene. Other villages also string horse lanterns, flower baskets, and perform lion dances, creating an equally lively atmosphere. The solitary lion dance in Jiangjiagang is the most famous.
During the festival, traditional opera performances will continue on the ancient stage. Xi Opera, Yue Opera, and Kunqu Opera are the main genres, and the spring stage performances are endless, covering all corners of the country. There are also activities such as playing the "lianxiang" (a traditional Chinese opera), carrying flower baskets, and guessing lantern riddles, allowing you to experience the rich flavor of the New Year!
Gaochun Old Street has a title: the second Confucius Temple in Jinling. It has the best-preserved ancient building complex in Jiangsu Province and is also the best-preserved ancient street from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in East China. Since the street market was officially established in the Song Dynasty, it has a history of more than 900 years.
The old street is 800 meters long from east to west, and its architectural layout is very pleasing. Its plane shape is an arc-shaped money pocket, which means putting wealth into the pocket. It is most suitable for the Chinese New Year!
The quaint shops, houses, unique workshops, and winding and deep stone alleys fully display the folk customs of Jinling City that have lasted for thousands of years.
In Gaochun, you can also see strong folk customs, such as slaughtering New Year pigs, stuffing sausages, pig snouts, pickled old geese, green dumplings, Gaochun dried dumplings... There are all kinds of New Year goods, and all the New Year atmosphere you want is here.
You all know that Zhouzhuang is a representative of the Jiangnan water town, but few people know that it is the place with the strongest New Year atmosphere in Jiangsu.
Zhouzhuang residents have their own particularities, including staying up all night on New Year's Eve, setting off firecrackers on the first day of the Lunar New Year, holding weddings on the second and fourth days of the Lunar New Year, welcoming the God of Wealth on the fifth day, and celebrating the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day. Consequently, a variety of lively events are held here every year.
The first day of the Lunar New Year is the Spring Ox Beating Festival, the fifth day is the God of Wealth Festival, and the fifteenth day is the Lantern Festival. In addition, there are eight other places to experience the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year, such as visiting the New Year market, drinking spring wine, and eating Yuanshi. A trip to Zhouzhuang during the Lunar New Year allows you to experience the authentic Spring Festival in this water town.
Although under the impact of modern civilization, the traditional New Year customs in many places have been gradually lost, and people always say that "the New Year atmosphere has faded", in fact it is not that the New Year atmosphere has faded, but that you have not yet discovered Huizhou, where the folk culture is relatively well preserved.
The Huizhou New Year is extremely grand. The 23 days from Laba to New Year's Eve are called "busy year"; the half month from the first day of the Lunar New Year to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month is called "Guo Nian". And it is not considered over until the 15th day of the first lunar month!
Killing the New Year pig, making rice cakes, eating peaches, singing opera, sword dancing, bench dragon dance, flying lanterns, and the most important fish lantern...
In 2020, we held the first Huizhou New Year Goods Festival here, and everyone gathered together to celebrate the New Year in a lively manner!
The New Year Goods Festival is grand, with five cities participating; the New Year Goods Festival is convenient, with all kinds of transportation available!
▲Five cities connected, accessible by car or public transportation
In addition to experiencing the aforementioned New Year customs, you can also visit historic villages and 4A-level scenic spots, stay in a classic Huizhou-style B&B—the French Family Inn, make hand-held lanterns, cut window paper-cuts, write couplets, and even win a huge prize in interactive games at the New Year Pig Feast! The flavor of the New Year is no longer just a memory. The flavor of the New Year is in Huizhou!
A microcosm of the Ming Dynasty, a glorious era. "The Glory of the Tang Dynasty," starring Tang Wei and Zhu Yawen, is currently airing. A few days ago, I wrote about the filming locations of "Joy of Life," and someone left a message asking about the filming locations of "The Glory of the Tang Dynasty." After some research, I discovered that a significant portion of the filming took place at the Wuxi Film and Television Base.
Jiming Temple, which played a large part in the early scenes, was actually filmed at Huishan Temple in Huishan Ancient Town. You can go there during the Spring Festival!
When talking about Wuxi, one can't avoid mentioning Lingshan, especially during the Chinese New Year. Wuxi Lingshan, a unique blend of lakeside scenery, gardens and plazas, Buddhist culture, and historical knowledge, is one of the most comprehensive Buddhist cultural parks in China, showcasing the achievements of Sakyamuni.
During the Spring Festival each year, the scenic Lingshan Mountain hosts activities to welcome the new year and bring good fortune. During the New Year, visitors to Lingshan can not only listen to the ringing bells from the ancient temple and watch the dazzling fireworks, but also witness the nighttime spectacle of the Nine Dragons Bathing Ceremony and join the monks in lighting auspicious lanterns and expressing gratitude.
On New Year's Eve, a super cute little monk will perform a wonderful dance to the beat of the music. We wish every visitor a happy and joyful new year.
Baohua Mountain, located northwest of Jurong, Jiangsu Province, boasts a rich history and culture. Emperor Qianlong visited Baohua Mountain six times during his six trips south of the Yangtze River. Countless scholars and scholars throughout history have visited the mountain and the temple.
Qianhua Ancient Village, a popular ancient village at the foot of the mountain, imitates the architectural structure of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It has a strong ancient charm and market atmosphere. Cloth shops, grain and oil shops, banks, wine shops, theaters, gambling houses, circus areas, and escort agencies have been restored one by one.
As you wander the scenic area, you'll be treated to a feast for the eyes with a variety of folk acrobatic performances. Sichuan Opera face-changing, Huangmei Opera, fire-breathing, knife-climbing, ancient magic tricks, street monkey training, puppet shows...all showcase traditional folk arts.
In order to let visitors experience the strong New Year atmosphere, Qianhua Ancient Village invites lantern craftsmen every year to carefully make a large number of various lanterns, decorating the ancient village with flowers.
Not only can you enjoy the beauty of the ancient village, but you can also guess lantern riddles and enjoy the lanterns to add fun to the festival.
An essential part of celebrating the Lunar New Year is preparing for the New Year. Those who know the trade will head to Anchang Ancient Town! You can find all the New Year goods you can think of in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai here!
Homemade sausage, Shaoxing duck, pulled sugar, air-dried fish, honey cake, wine-flavored mooncake, osmanthus cake, fish skin wonton, crispy sesame cake, pine nut cake, fried fish, cream-fried dumplings, Xiangling... just hearing the names is enough to make your mouth water!
Stock up for the Lunar New Year in Anchang! Record the New Year with delicious food!
Wuzhen, Mao Dun's hometown, is like a window, revealing the landscape of the 1930s. Its authentic waterside charm and millennia-old cultural heritage make it a standout among the ancient towns of Jiangnan.
Spending the New Year in Wuzhen, you can have a rich and happy time, and experience the traditional New Year customs that have been passed down in this thousand-year-old town: making rice cakes, dumplings, offering sacrifices, long table New Year banquets, etc., just like the New Year in your childhood, authentically.
We have to mention the Wuzhen Water Lantern Festival, where all kinds of lanterns are clustered together and shine brightly, some are hand-held, some are hanging, and some are placed in various shapes and are lifelike.
Especially on the night of the Lantern Festival, in addition to enjoying the lanterns and celebrating the Lantern Festival, Wuzhen people always go out in groups to walk on the bridges with lanterns, especially the Xizha Shuangqiao, to pray for good fortune and longevity in the new year.
