Chinese New Year is to Asians what Thanksgiving is to Americans.
So, whoever said Shanghai is empty during the Chinese New Year, hasn’t been in Shanghai during the Chinese New Year.
I compiled a list of 10 things to do in Shanghai during the Chinese New Year based on my personal experience.
1. Experience a traditional Chinese dinner
For many expats, Chinese New Year’s Eve is celebrated similarly to New Year’s Eve with a fancy dinner and night out at the bar. I accepted that this might be how my Chinese New Year was going to be spent but in the back of my mind, I really wanted a peek into the traditional Chinese celebration.
My wish was granted.
At the very last minute, I was invited by one of the Chinese teachers I work with to join her and her family for a traditional Chinese New Year celebration.
Her invite requested I arrive at 3 pm so she could teach me how to make Jiaozi. I didn’t bother looking it up, I knew I would soon find out the meaning.
I had no idea what to expect and I’ll admit I was a little nervous but this was overshadowed by my excitement and curiosity.
DUMPLINGS!!!
We’re making dumplings. Ahhhh my favorite!
At first, mine simply looked like shit. The dough wouldn’t stick together on the ends and there was too much or too little filling.
After hours, seriously 3 hours, of making over 200 Jiaozi, my skills certainly improved.
Not to mention our conversation spanned many topics throughout the course of the night.
Her husband taught me some of their Chinese traditions, was overly excited to show me that he too uses a VPN to access blocked sites (what a rebel!), and we discussed world politics.
Why do you need a VPN?
Having a VPN while traveling is a necessity for a few reasons. First of all, some countries (hi China) won’t let you access many sites that you’re accustomed to using without one. Think Instagram, Google/Gmail, YouTube, Facebook, etc. Next, by using a VPN, you’ll be able to change your virtual location which allows you to get better deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. It’s also important to remember to clear your cookies when changing VPN locations.
I had temporary breaks to play with their 2-year-old daughter. Which was obviously much needed when discussing any country’s politics.
I got to see many of the traditions that take place on the eve of the new year firsthand.
Ringing in the new year with a brand new wardrobe and spotless home sound pretty fancy but are typical for Chinese New Year.
On the eve, red couplets (Chinese character phrases- see my red couplet below under 6. Shanghai Center Tower) and door gods that hold blessings for wealth, health, and peace for the year must be removed. They are replaced with new ones for the upcoming year as the Chinese believe these blessings only “protect” the home for a one-year time period.
Homes and businesses are also decked out in new decorations for the year with the Chinese zodiac theme. 2017 is the year of the rooster.
After the house is clean and decorated and the Jiaozi are made, the rest of the evening is spent eating endless dishes of food for hours on end. No objections here!
While continuing to eat we watched CCTV’s New Year Gala and made red paper cut-outs. CCTV is comparable to the televised Times Square ball dropping, it features Chinese New Year celebrations from major cities around the country. Most families around the country tune in to watch CCTV until 1 a.m. I certainly did not make it that long!
Each family has their own way of celebrating and keeping the ancient traditions alive within the family. If you know a local Chinese family, you will most likely receive an invite and I highly encourage you to take part in this experience to learn about their traditions and culture.
2. Admire the lanterns at Yuyuan Gardens
Amongst the bustling city of Shanghai, lies the Old City of Shanghai. Today the Old City of Shanghai is a combination of ancient streets and modern high-rise buildings. Within the perimeter of the ancient city sits Yuyuan Mart, Yuyuan Garden, and City God Temple. Read about my visit to Yuyuan Gardens here.
3. Wander around Qibao Ancient Town
Qibao Ancient Town was built around Qibao Temple during the Five Dynasties. Today it’s an area filled with traditional Chinese architecture, museums, and street food.
During the Chinese New Year, lanterns, and people fill the main square. As I explored and wandered through the maze, I ended up down a narrow street…or maybe it was an alley? I’m not really sure. I became absorbed in everything around me and before I knew it, I’m 99% sure I was in someone’s backyard.
This was pretty much confirmed shortly after when I saw a couple drinking tea on patio furniture and it wasn’t a restaurant. Smiling, I continued down the empty alley (I promise it’s not as scary as it sounds) only to arrive in the middle of a foodie’s heaven street festival.
Squid on a stick. Tanghula (candied fruit on a stick). Nearly every type of dumpling imaginable (which if you’ve been following me, you know are my favorite). And much much more.
I promise I tried really hard to walk past the dumplings. And I did. Then I walked right back to them.
Another one of my favorite things to do here in Shanghai is watching them make dumplings. There is just something about watching the entire process from start to finish that really makes them that much better; from making my dumplings from scratch to watching my chopstick lift them up to my mouth. Mmmm…
The narrow streets and alleyways all loop and connect back to the main square of Qibao so in the end I didn’t get lost. Though I was convinced for a second I was going to have to retrace my steps to get out and I wasn’t sure I would be able to do that. I’m also quite certain I’m not the only person who has wandered through someone’s backyard here.
Each market I went to (Yuyuan Mart, Tian Zi Fang, and Qibao) had its very own uniqueness to it. Qibao wasn’t as touristy as the others once you wandered into the heart, or ya know into someone’s backyard, and the people were warm and welcoming. I enjoyed the down-to-earth aspect, so if you’re like me and enjoy wandering through locals backyards, then you should definitely put Qibao on your list of places to visit while in Shanghai.
How to get there: Shanghai Metro, Line 9, Qibao Station, Exit 6
How much: FREE (plus 10RMB dumplings…because you need to)
4. Jade Buddha Temple
With many Buddhas sent from Burma and Singapore, Jade Buddha Temple was created in the middle of the city during the Qing Dynasty.
Unbeknownst to me, on the fifth day of the Chinese New Year the Chinese visit the temple to receive blessings for wealth in the new year. I quickly found this out as I stepped into line 2 blocks away from the entrance of the temple.
Jade Buddha Temple is much bigger than I anticipated with a Grand Hall, the Jade Buddha Chamber, and multiple chambers housing various statues, as well as a few restaurants open to the public.
As I wandered around the grounds, I noticed everyone carrying around unlit barrels of incense between prayer hands as they approached each Buddha to bow. Inwardly, I wondered the significance of this as previous temples I visited all held lit incense. I told myself to look it up later.
This quickly vanished from my to-do list as I turned the corner. At first sight, there were lines of firemen and clouds of smoke. Ah-ha. This is where the burning takes place.
Due to the high volume of visitors on this day, it’s not safe for thousands of people to walk around the temples with a handful of lit incense. Therefore, they dedicated a common area for visitors to light the ritual incense and pray.
I applaud the Jade Buddha Temple admin for thinking of this as I would have certainly walked away with a burnt jacket or half my hair after all the people I bumped into.
The lanterns and people provided a vibe I wouldn’t have otherwise received on another visit. Though, I do plan on visiting at another time when there aren’t as many people so I can capture the true beauty of the Jade Buddha.
How to get there: Shanghai Metro, Line 13, Jiangning Road Station
How much: 20RMB
5. Chinese New Year Trivia and Game Night
Many bars and pubs around the city hold weekly trivia and game nights, so of course, The Camel had to incorporate a Chinese New Year theme into their Tuesday trivia night.
I met some friends there and with some help from a couple nearby not participating, we did okay. Being Shanghai newbies, we were totally throwing blind guesses out for the Chinese New Year part of the game. However, I certainly learned a lot more about the Chinese New Year and Chinese zodiac signs. Also how terrible my knowledge of music is before the 90s and outside of the pop, r&b, rap, and country genres.
Check out SmartShanghai for local weekly trivia and game nights around the city while you’re visiting.
6. Shanghai Center Tower
Are you scared of heights?
World’s tallest building (by height to the highest usable floor).
Six-hundred-thirty-two meters high.
World’s highest observation deck within a building.
Five-hundred-sixty-one meters high.
World’s fastest elevator.
Twenty-point-five meters per second.
The Shanghai Tower in Pudong is all this and more.
On the first warm day full of blue skies and sunshine, I spontaneously took a trip to the Shanghai Center Tower. Looking far up into the sky at the cylindrical building as white puffy clouds float on by made me a little nauseous. Flying up the elevator at 20.5m/s my ears started popping and before I knew it, I was above the clouds overlooking Shanghai’s beautiful sky of…smog.
Okay, not exactly what I expected.
I was surprised by how quickly the smog sets in and obstructs the views. Regardless of the weather or air quality, you will still see Shanghai from a different point of view.
With it being Chinese New Year and all, there was an old man who set up shop at the top. Painting wealth and luck blessings on traditional rice paper red couplets and handing them out.
All he asked for in return? A picture. It was very sweet.
Besides this and the incredible 360° views, there isn’t much going on at the top of Shanghai.
I believe the Shanghai Center Tower is missing out on a profitable opportunity by not having a restaurant or bar on the observation deck floor.
In my personal opinion, if you’ve only got time for a few things in Shanghai and you’re trying to decide what to skip, I would say you could skip the Shanghai Center Tower. Instead, check out one of the nearby hotels, which aren’t as high but still give a decent view of the city, and visit one of their restaurants or bars. (Be mindful, though that it’s the financial district and they have odd hours on the weekends.)
How to get there: Shanghai Metro, Line 2, Lujiazui Station, Exit 6 OR buy tickets at the Bund near East Nanjing Road and the Sightseeing Tunnel to take Dongfu Line Ferry across the Huangpujiang River to Pudong
How much: 160RMB
7. Tian Zi Fang
As you make your way from the subway to Taikiang Road, it will look like every other street within the French Concession, lined with boutiques and western restaurants. Bursting at the seams as part of the French Concession artistic renovation, Tian Zi Fang is built from the inside outward.
With no “official” entrance, you can make your way down an alleyway and before you know it you will be immersed in Tian Zi Fang’s street stall vendors, art galleries, traditional market stalls, boutique shops, and craft workshops.
At times you will feel as though you are in any other Chinese marketplace, then you will turn the corner to find an air conditioning unit popping out of the wall and a line of laundry. Just some of the remnants of local life buried deep within Tian Zi Fang.
How to get there: Shanghai Metro, Line 9, Dapuqiao Station, Exit 1
How much: FREE
8. The Bund
If you’ve seen any pictures of Shanghai, they’re most likely a skyline view of the Bund as it is the most famous tourist destination in Shanghai.
The Bund runs along the Huangpu River facing Pudong District for a mile housing many restaurants, media houses, social clubs, banks like the famous Hong Kong Bank building, and numerous hotels including the famous Peace Hotel.
Many sightseeing tours take you along the bund or ferry to take you across the Huangpu River for a small fee.
I enjoy simply walking down The Bund, people-watching, and taking in the sights.
(Some of my FitFam workouts with the West Bund Titans run along here so I’m here quite often to take in the sights, or do burpees all down the riverwalk…)
Whether day or night, The Bund is breathtaking and you will always discover something new.
The Bund has its very own Bund Bull, designed by Arturo Di Modica, the same artist who created the Charging Bull of New York City. Inspiration from the Charging Bull and the Chinese zodiac Ox was used in designing it prior to 2010 (the year of the Ox).
Of course, Shanghai commissioned theirs to be twice the size of New York’s, younger and stronger to symbolize the energy of Shanghai’s economy. Both bulls are rumored to produce good luck when stroking their…well, you know.
We’ll see how lucky my year is now…
How to get there: Shanghai Metro, Line 2, East Nanjing Road
How much: FREE
9. Join a FitFam workout
Back to WeChat…FitFam is a FREE workout group on WeChat divided into districts with morning and evening workouts as well as indoor and outdoor locations. The workouts include HIIT, boxing, and a few run clubs.
You’re bound to meet someone new each time you go and you will leave feeling like you are part of the family after just one visit.
Plus there’s always brunch after our morning workouts and who can turn down brunch?
Not me.
10. Eat Everything
This is pretty self-explanatory. Whether you are a local or visiting you will want to make sure to get your hands on a copy of an updated list of holiday hours for restaurants during Chinese New Year. Many are closed but some have holiday hours depending on their staff. Not to worry, there are still plenty of places to get your grub on and most likely you won’t have as much of a wait, especially towards the beginning of the holiday.
Whether you are looking for Western or Chinese food, you’re sure to find a little bit of everything…
Looking for more things to do in Shanghai? Check out my other posts below or drop a comment below!
