C4.52 Chinese Lunar New Year¶
Guide to Chinese Lunar New Year Celebrations
In the UK, besides Lunar New Year events held by major Chinese businesses, student unions in various cities also organize Spring Festival Galas—among them, the one hosted by the Manchester Student Union has even won awards. Some Lunar New Year celebrations in UK cities require tickets (which need to be booked in advance), while others are free of charge. Additionally, several universities in the UK hold special events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Today, Shishengmiao is going to introduce the best Chinese New Year celebrations held in several UK cities. These events have been held annually and continue to this day, and importantly, they are all free.
London
First on Shishengmiao’s recommendation list is London. If possible, it’s highly recommended to attend the celebrations there. There are many Lunar New Year events in London organized by other businesses or organizations, but most of them require advance booking and payment. At the end of this article, Shishengmiao will attach screenshots for reference—you can search for more details yourself. Regarding Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in London, Shishengmiao only recommends the official one
London's Chinese Lunar New Year celebration has now been held for 17 consecutive years. It is completely free and open to everyone, and can be said to be the largest celebration of the Chinese Spring Festival in Europe. Officially described as "London's Lunar New Year festivities are the largest outside Asia."
At the event, there are not only dragon and lion dance performances, but also Peking Opera, martial arts, dance, singing and other shows, as well as a variety of traditional Chinese cuisines. The Mayor will also attend in person to deliver a speech. The celebration is fully free for all to attend—arriving earlier allows you to get a front-row spot and even take a photo with the Mayor.
London's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations feature a street parade, the largest Spring Festival parade in Europe, with a great number and variety of Chinese lions and dragons. The parade starts at Charing Cross Road and passes through Shaftesbury Avenue in Chinatown.
London's Chinese New Year celebrations take place at Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and the West End respectively
Reminder from Shishengmiao: Trafalgar Square is the main venue for watching performances. A stage will be set up in the square where all shows and speeches take place, and food stalls will be available on both sides of the square. Chinatown mainly features small-scale dragon and lion dances, traditional delicacies, photo opportunities with zodiac animal displays, and other minor performances. Leicester Square focuses on family and friend-friendly interactive activities such as dumpling making and Chinese calligraphy writing. The section from Charing Cross Road to Shaftesbury Avenue is primarily for the parade.
As shown in the picture below is the map of the day's events:
The celebration is free for everyone to attend.
Reminder from Shishengmiao:
London will be extremely crowded on the day. It’s best to arrive early and walk around the area after arriving in central London—never drive. Driving will leave you stuck in endless traffic, and there will be traffic restrictions on surrounding streets.
Wear comfortable shoes, as there are almost no seats available and you’ll be standing and walking throughout the event.
Bring a power bank, as your phone will quickly run out of battery from constant photo-taking and video-recording.
Bring an umbrella, or alternatively a hat or a hooded jacket. Rain can come at any time—you know how unpredictable British weather is.
Special reminder from Shishengmiao: If you arrive early and are dressed in a creative or thoughtful outfit, you’re very likely to be interviewed or asked by many foreigners to take photos with them. Shishengmiao has personally been approached by foreigners for group photos.
In addition to the Mayor’s speech, Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, has also delivered speeches at Trafalgar Square for several consecutive years.
Prepare some cash in small notes or coins to buy food and other items on the day.
If you plan to stay overnight in London or dine at certain restaurants, Shishengmiao recommends booking in advance to avoid facing no availability or long waits of several hours.
Bring your student ID. Many places offer New Year discounts with additional exclusive discounts for students, and some businesses may even give out small gifts even if there’s no discount.
For more information about London’s Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, please visit the official website:https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/whats-on/chinese-new-year
Birmingham
Like the celebrations in London mentioned above, arriving early for Birmingham's Chinese Lunar New Year event will secure you a good spot. Of course, the number of attendees in Birmingham is likely fewer than in London, with around tens of thousands of people expected to participate.
In previous years, Birmingham's celebrations have included dragon dances, lion dances, dance performances, martial arts shows, as well as fireworks displays. As Shishengmiao reminded for London, it’s advisable to arrive early.
Birmingham's event is also free of charge.
Manchester
Manchester's celebrations run for a relatively long period. During this time, the city's iconic features—such as red lanterns, glittering golden dragons, live performances, and the legendary dragon dance parade—will unfold one after another.
The programs and timings vary by venue, so you can visit them in chronological order.
All of Manchester's events are also free to attend.
There are quite a few events in Manchester, totaling 15. Shishengmiao will briefly introduce the following ones; for the rest, please check the official link as detailed below:
Chinatown Celebrations
Venue:Chinatown
Across Manchester, there will be brand-new illuminated dragon displays, traditional lion dances, Chinese acrobatic shows, singing, poetry recitals, and kung fu performances, among others.
Schedule as follows:
Friday 24th January12pm – 8pm: Stalls12pm – 8pm: Funfair5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm: Illuminated Dragon Dance
Saturday 25th January12pm – 8pm: Stalls12pm – 8pm: Funfair12pm – 5pm: Live Performances (Lion Dance, Chinese Dance, Singing, Poem Reading & Kungfu)5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm: Illuminated Dragon Dance
Sunday 26th January12pm – 8pm: Stalls12pm – 8pm: Workshops12pm – 8pm: Funfair12pm – 5.30pm: Live Performances (Chinese Acrobatics, Lion Dance, Chinese Opera, Chinese Dance, Singing, Poem Reading & Kungfu)12.30pm – 2pm: 175ft Dragon Parade (St Peter’s Square – Chinatown)5.30pm: Illuminated Dragon Dance6pm: Firework Finale
The Dragon Parade
The Dragon Parade usually starts at St Peter’s Square and proceeds all the way to Chinatown.
Parade route: St Peter’s Square -> Peter Street -> Oxford Street -> Portland Street -> Princess Street -> Faulkner Street -> Chinatown NCP Car Park
Giant Golden Dragon
There will be a 50-foot-tall golden dragon at St Ann’s Square.
It is a giant golden dragon for viewing and taking photos with
Chinatown Fireworks Finale
A fireworks display will start at 6pm on 26th January in Chinatown. The fireworks will light up the starry sky, creating a stunning spectacle—perfect for filming short videos to share on social media. Reminder from Shishengmiao: This is Chinatown in Manchester, so don’t mistakenly go to London or other cities!
Family Craft Workshops with CFCCA
and
Family Craft Workshops with Manchester Confucius Institute
The first one, Family Craft Workshops with CFCCA, like the one in London, is a free craft activity for families and children, focusing on making paper dragons and other handcrafted items.
Venue: Exchange Court, Manchester Arndale
Family Craft Workshops with Manchester Confucius Institute is a family craft workshop organized by the Manchester Confucius Institute. It mainly introduces the culture of the Chinese zodiac and offers related craft-making activities.
Time: 25th January, 11am to 4pm. Please note the correct date—this Confucius Institute workshop is on the 25th.
Venue: Exchange Court, Manchester Arndale
For more information about Manchester's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, please visit the official website:https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/chinese-new-year
Liverpool
Liverpool's event schedule is as shown in the picture below:
Liverpool Event List:
The Taste of China Sunday Street MarketChinatown Sunday Lunar New Year Market
John Collins FunfairAmusement Rides
Chinese New Year at the Black-EThe Black-E Arts Venue
Great George Square Performance Area(Chinese New Year Family Zone & Stage) Chinatown Cultural Performance Area
Dragon, Unicorn & Lion Dance Street ParadeDragon, Lion & Qilin Dance Street Parade
Chinese Lucky Man Giving Red EnvelopesCai Shen Ye (God of Wealth) Distributing Red Packets
Firecracker Display, Great George SquareGrand Firecracker Display at Great George Square
Pagoda Chinese Community CentrePagoda Chinese Community Centre Celebration Event
Wah Sing Chinese Community CentreWah Sing Chinese Community Centre Lunar New Year Celebration
Liverpool Chinese New Year VIP Show & DinnerGengzi Year of the Rat VIP Gala & Dinner
For more information about Liverpool's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, please visit the official website:
University of Exeter Chinese New Year celebrations
It is estimated that several thousand people attended the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations at the University of Exeter in the UK in 2020. The university's Spring Festival celebrations in Exeter are the largest in the city, attracting around 2,500 participants each year. Organized by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA), the event is co-sponsored by the University of Exeter, the Students' Guild, and the Streetwise Fund.
Reminder from Shishengmiao: The outdoor performances in the city center listed above may be changed at short notice due to weather conditions on the day. Any updates will be announced in advance directly on the University of Exeter's official website.
The Spring Festival Gala hosted by the Exeter CSSA is a paid event. Tickets are approximately £10-12 and need to be purchased in advance. The gala is held at the IC Hall as seating is limited.
For more information about Exeter's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, please visit the official website:http://www.exeter.ac.uk/internationalstudents/livingintheuk/getinvolved/chinesenewyear/
Screenshots of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in other UK cities:
