Chinese New Year in Macau is the city’s biggest and boldest annual celebration. Famlies swap gifts, share wishes for the new year and eat too much - think Christmas but with firecrackers and dragon dances.
You can find out more about the actual celebration of the event in our Guide to Chinese New Year, while below you’ll find the specific Macau celebrations – with dates and addresses.
In 2012 Chinese New Year falls on January 23rd, (the date changes from year to year) although the celebrations last for a couple of days.
Chinese New Year at the Temple
Temples in Macau are full to bursting at Chinese New Year as locals ply their favourite deities with goodies and gifts in the hope of buying some good luck in the New Year. Amidst the crowds and haze of incense you’ll find dragon dances and drumming groups as well as fortune tellers promising to give you a glimpse into the future. We’ve already been looking at Chinese New Year horoscopes for the year ahead. The liveliest temple for Chinese New Year in Macau is the 16th century A-Ma temple and the best day to visit is traditionally Chinese New Year’s eve.- Details: A-Ma Temple
- Address: Largo de Barro
- When: 22nd January
Chinese New Year Parade in Macau
Macau’s flagship event is its Chinese New Year parade. This festival of floats, dancers and drummers will feature 18 lion dances, a variety of local and regional floats and the blockbuster attraction - a 238 meter dragon. The parade will sway its way from Senado Square through Lilau Square, the A-Ma Temple and on to Sai Van Lake Square.- Details: Chinese New Year Parade
- Address: Senado Square to Sai Van Lake Square
- When: January 23rd
Chinese New Year Fireworks
It wouldn’t be a Chinese festival without blowing up some fireworks and for Chinese New Year Macau tends to let off a whole factory. It promises to be truly spectacular. The best vantage point will from the base of the Macau Tower or facing back across the water from the waterfront on Taipa.- Details – Chinese New Year Fireworks
- Address – Macau Tower or along the seafront
- When: January 23 at 9pm
Flower Markets for Chinese New Year
Flowers are an integral part of Chinese New Year celebrations and in the run up to the big day flower markets spring up to satisfy the demand for kumquat trees and other good luck flowers. These are best visited at night – after 8pm – when they are packed with families hunting down their favourite tree and arms wide with flowers. The atmosphere is celebratory and you’ll find plenty of sweet food and drink to fill up on. Macau has two locations one at Fisherman’s Wharf and the other at Tap Seac Square – the latter is by far the better option.- Details: Tap Seac Square Flower Market
- When: 16th – 22nd January 9am-2am
- Where: Tap Seac Square
