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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
“Younger Brother” (left) and “Elder Sister” could be introduced to the public early next year. Photo: Ocean Park
Hong Kong’s pandas

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

Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong says he hopes the twins can be introduced to everyone after Lunar New Year.

China's economic recovery

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

Tencent

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

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.

That snake-like shingles rash can appear anywhere - not just on the trunk, but also the face where it can affect the eyes and vision. Photo: Shutterstock
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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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.

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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.

A snake at a farm in Bangkok, Thailand. The next lunar new year will be a Year of the Wood Snake, which comes around every 60 years. The previous one, in 1965, saw dynamic change and upheaval. Are we in for more of the same? Photo: Getty Images
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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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?

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.

The highest price for regular 4.5 square metre stalls stood at HK$20,000, with three going for the starting price of HK$8,540. Photo: Eugene Lee
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.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department conducted an auction for stalls on Tuesday. Photo: Dickson Lee
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.

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?

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.

National Day fireworks last year. This year’s show will end at 9.30pm, which should give visitors enough time to head back over the border. Photo: Sam Tsang
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.

Former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai, who was on remand at the time, is escorted to his father’s funeral in 2021. Photo: May Tse
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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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

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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.

Tourists gather for photos near the Merlion statue in Singapore. More than 327,000 people arrived in the city state from China last month, official figures show. Photo: AFP
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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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.

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.

Tourists shopping on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Hong Kong tourism would benefit from Beijing’s willingness to raise the HK$5,000 duty-free allowance for mainland citizens. Photo: Dickson Lee
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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Electric vehicles at a charging station after snow in Yantai, China, on February 22, 2024. Phot: Getty Images
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?

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.

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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Export growth was primarily driven by strong demand in Asia. Photo: Jelly Tse
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.

A father in China has sparked anger on mainland social media after he launched a failed legal bid to grab half of his children’s US$36,000 Lunar New Year lucky money during a divorce battle. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
China jobs

‘The wages are not as good’: China’s returning migrant workers battling reality

Migrant workers returning after the Lunar New Year holiday in China have low expectations for a pay rise this year, as the number of jobs is not as high as last year.

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Cinema

China’s February box office passes US$1.4 billion on Lunar New Year boost

Ticket sales during the Lunar New Year break rose more than 18 per cent compared to the holiday last year.

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