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Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is celebrated across China and in many parts of Asia and the world where Chinese communities can be found. It is often marked by time off work or school and includes family visits, meals together, and games like mahjong.
last updated:
14 November, 2024
René Caovilla’s Cleo shoes feature a snake strap design that coils around the ankle. Photo: Instagram/@renecaovilla
Fashion

Serpent-inspired shoes, dresses and accessories for Year of the Snake

From shoes to dresses and watches, some of the best fashion and jewellery items to wear for the coming Year of the Snake.

Wellness

Year of the Snake retreat in Hong Kong to feature snake-themed exercises

Hong Kong’s pandas

Hong Kong public may get to see panda cubs in February, Ocean Park boss says

China's economic recovery

China sees surge in travel demand for extended Lunar New Year holiday

Flights and group tours are already booking up weeks ahead of the eight-day public holiday, which begins on January 28.

Crowds of people walk past the Peace Hotel on Shanghai’s Bund during the Lunar New Year holiday in February 2024. Photo: AFP
Tencent

China’s super app WeChat flexes e-commerce muscles with gift feature

The new function could be Tencent’s next big hit after electronic red packets, says one merchant.

Wellness

Explainer | Why ‘growing snakes’ – shingles – is so painful and how to prevent it

Shingles causes a rash that can feel like ‘being burned and electrocuted’ at the same time. We look at its symptoms, treatment and vaccine.

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Chinese culture

8 celebs born in the Year of the Snake, from Taylor Swift to K-pop’s Psy

As the Year of the Snake slithers closer, we look at some well-known people who were snake babies – including a Chinese politician.

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Taylor Swift during a concert in Singapore as part of The Eras Tour. The singer is among a number of celebrities born in the Year of the Snake. Photo: Getty Images
History

Recap | Taylor Swift, Elon Musk and Salman Rushdie were foreshadowed in ancient China

Explore connections between Chinese history, current events, and modern celebrities with longtime contributor Wee Kek Koon.

Chinese culture

Why the coming Year of the Wood Snake could be lucky

With 12 animals and 5 elements, the Year of the Wood Snake comes around every 60 years, and 2025’s may be more favourable than 1965’s.

China economy

Chinese workers to get 2 extra days’ holiday, including longer Lunar New Year

Two public holidays will be extended by a day, but the survival of the unpopular ‘holiday swap’ system tempers enthusiasm.

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Lunar New Year, the country’s biggest festival, will now be extended by an extra day. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese culture

Chinese horoscopes: how’s your luck in November 2024, Water Pig month?

If you are a Pig like billionaire Elon Musk or royal Queen Camilla, November is all about being humble – but what about the other 11 Chinese astrological signs?

Chinese horoscopes: how’s your luck in November 2024, Water Pig month? Predictions for health, wealth, love and work. Photo: SCMP Graphics
Hong Kong economy

Vendors at Hong Kong Lunar New Year fair worried over retail slump

Most successful bids for regular dry goods stalls at Victoria Park fair next year below average price from most recent edition.

Hong Kong economy

Top bid for Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year fair stall drops 17% from last year

Highest bid for prime spot at Victoria Park stood at HK$182,000, down from HK$220,000 previously.

Hong Kong

Editorial | Challenges ahead for Hong Kong businesses after surge during golden week

City hotels, restaurants and retailers may have enjoyed the National Day holiday, but they need more than seasonal booms to survive.

Mainland tourists shop in Tsim Sha Tsui during Hong Kong’s “golden week” celebrating National Day. Photo: Nora Tam
Chinese culture

Chinese horoscopes: how’s your luck in October 2024, Wood Dog month?

If you’re a Dog like Prince William or Donald Trump, October is all about maintaining good ties – but what about the other 11 Chinese astrological signs?

The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 different animals. Photos: SCMP Graphics
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong to boost cross-border traffic arrangements for National Day crowds

Authorities seek to avoid repeat of chaos on New Year’s Eve last year when thousands of mainland Chinese were stuck in city after fireworks show.

Hong Kong society

Explainer | Wedding bells behind bars? The Post examines rights for Hongkongers in jail

Prisoners can get married behind bars, get out under supervision for funerals of loved ones and women inmates can keep young children with them.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong retail sales fall 7% in March, marking worst performance in 2 years

Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department show sales in March at HK$31.2 billion.

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Across the first three months, which included Lunar New Year and the Easter holiday, retail sales dropped 1.3 per cent year on year. Photo: Elson Li
Chinese culture

Chinese horoscopes: your luck in April 2024, Earth Dragon month

April 2024 brings the Earth Dragon month but will it be lucky for you? Read on to learn how your zodiac signs are lining up and what that means for your health, wealth, work and love

Singapore

Singapore pulls ahead in Southeast Asia’s race to win back Chinese tourists

The number of visitors from China to the city state has very nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, outpacing the recovery in both Thailand and Indonesia – and way ahead of Europe and the US.

China travel

China international flights finally starting to rebound as border entries eased

Beijing has relaxed visa rules to attract more visitors in recent months, in line with intentions to stimulate a national economy beset by a property crunch, employment hurdles and hesitant consumer spending.

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Beijing Capital International Airport is seen packed in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year holiday last month. Photo: Bloomberg
China inflation

Explainer | ‘Too early to say deflation is over’: 4 takeaways from China’s February data

China’s consumer price index (CPI) turned positive for the first time since September, while the producer price index (PPI) fell for the 17th month in a row.

China’s consumer price index (CPI) rose in February by 0.7 per cent, year on year, ending a run of four consecutive months of decline. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong

Editorial | Duty of authorities to help support Hong Kong tourism

Mainland China tax on items bought in city puts people off from visiting and should be amended.

Asia travel

China leads the charge on EVs, yet holiday drivers left with flat batteries

China’s rising number of electric car owners, a shortage of charging stations and other issues caused long queues and left some drivers stranded when millions took to the roads at Lunar New Year.

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Art

‘Messi screwed it up’: Post cartoonist’s Year of the Dragon art for auction

Post cartoonist Harry Harrison is back with his annual Lunar New Year auction of original illustrations, this time paying homage to the Year of the Dragon – but why did Messi mess things up for him?

“2024… Here Be Dragons” pays homage to the Year of the Dragon with eight watercolour and ink illustrations up for auction that offer a humorous and light-hearted take on Hong Kong’s current political landscape. Photo: Harry Harrison
Trending in China

‘Cute and bossy’ China girl insists mother takes her lucky money as gift of thanks

A little girl in China was so appreciative of her mother’s love and the sacrifices she made for the family that she wanted to give her all the cash gifts she received from relatives over the Lunar New Year.

A seven-year-old girl in China who tried to give her mother the US$900 in “lucky money” she received from relatives as a gift of thanks for raising her and her younger brother has melted hearts on mainland social media. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong exports jump 33.6% in January for best performance in 3 years

January exports jump to HK$388.7 billion, marking fourth straight month of growth.

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Trending in China

Fury as father tries to pocket half of children’s lucky lai see money in divorce

A man in China who divorced his wife after she left him to live with her parents, taking the couple’s two children, has failed in a legal bid to grab half of his children’s lucky Lunar New Year money.

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