Our first Chinese New Year in China was a good one, although we were a bit let down by the absence of red dragons, parades, and other holiday traditions we’re used to in North America. Interestingly, MSN mentioned that the best places to celebrate the Chinese New Year were in the U.S.! We thought being in China would offer a more authentic experience with plenty of festivities. However, when we asked our Chinese friends about the best spots to see fireworks or celebrate, they seemed puzzled. It turns out many Chinese people prefer to stay home with their families during this time.
So, we decided to meet up with some of our foreign friends and head to our favorite restaurant, Dongbei – the only open place on the street! The lovely family running the place was happy to see us. Since we’re regulars, visiting about twice a week, we brought them a massive grapefruit as a gift, which the owner appreciated. We enjoyed a delicious feast of fried pork, spicy tofu, dumplings, fried green beans, stewed beef, chicken innards, pork and vegetables wrapped in tofu rind, rice, and a fruit platter provided by the family for dessert. It was fantastic!
After dinner, we headed to our friend’s house to play board games, have some drinks, and wait for midnight to set off fireworks. Around 11:45, it sounded like bombs were going off outside the apartment. We all went out to join the firework display. The sky was lit up, and the sounds echoed off the apartment buildings, making it feel like a war zone. We’ve never seen so many fireworks going off at once, especially on sidewalks and between apartment complexes. It was quite a spectacle! The air was thick, and we could taste the grit from the smoke and chemicals.
The Chinese invented fireworks and set them off whenever they can. We see fireworks almost daily, but during the Chinese New Year, it was non-stop. If we had been in a bigger city like Shanghai or Hong Kong, maybe our experience would have been different. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our night with friends and are now looking forward to the Lantern Festival. We’re considering a trip to Nanjing, the capital of the province, to see what’s happening there.