Happy Chinese New Year!! After weeks of anticipation, the day has finally come. Last night at midnight, we watched fire works light up the sky from our balcony. And today, we headed out to celebrate the new year- the year of the dog!
Trenton and I, along with twelve other expats, went to the Festival of Lights! We were told that this was the best place in the city to celebrate. So we boarded a bus and were on our way! Except…the closer we got to the festival, the more crowded the bus became. Stop after stop, people piled on, and no one was getting off. We were all smooshed together in the most uncomfortable way! {And my new Kate Spade winter hat is now missing, sadly, and I’m blaming this bus trip!} By the time we finally got to our destination, stepping out into the smog felt like a breath of fresh air.
We then headed inside! And the crowds were insane. So insane we lost pieces of our group before we even bought our tickets. If you have ever gone to Disney between Christmas and New Years, then you’ll understand what type of crowds I’m talking about. But hey, we were told to go on this day to get the full, authentic, cultural experience. And we sure did!
Inside the giant park, there was big light displays, booths set up selling all kinds of food, endless shops, and a huge concert area. It was still light out when we arrived so I was able to get a few photos. First, we headed straight for the food.
The food booths were vary similar to what you would think of in any other major fair, except the food was all Asian. And it was super cheap. To start off, we ordered some fries. It’s always a gamble ordering fries because they could either taste amazing or awful. And these ones were the latter. Luckily, Trenton was so hungry he ate them anyway. Next, we ordered some steamed buns with meat. These were rather tasteless, but edible. We looked at booth after booth, which was hard to do since the crowds were so thick it was hard to see what was for sale, and we ended up ordering a meat pastry with wah jow- a Chinese numbing spice that makes your mouth go numb. Ha! Again, Trenton ate that one cause I wasn’t a fan. He was like, “Courtney, I can’t feel my tongue!” I was dying. Eventually, we spotted some pineapple rice baked inside a pineapple and I knew this was something I would like. And I did! It was so delicious. We also got popcorn and ice cream, because it is a holiday after all.
We then toured the park with our friends, checked out the lights, and headed home- this time on the metro! And we stopped at KFC because I wanted some good fries after the awful fries I had earlier in the night. I love Chinese food, but sometimes I just need a little taste of something normal-to-me to help keep me sane in this new, foreign world. (Even though I never ate KFC in the states- haha!)
Now we are back home and watching The Office.
All in all, a great New Year’s Day.
And I’m just glad we have another week to celebrate… and then we head to Hong Kong!
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Have you ever celebrated Chinese New Year? What is your favorite Chinese food? Maybe you could head to your local Chinese restaurant to celebrate! Perfect excuse for some chow mein, right?!
You can check out some videos of my night at the festival over on my Insta page: @courtneylivin
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Zhōngguó nónglì xīnnián kuàilè ♥
Oh it looks so pretty. So many beautiful lights and decorations are so on point. xx
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Thanks! The lights were so vibrant!
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Wow, that is super cool! I have always wondered what a Chinese New Year is like. ❤
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Thanks girl! It’s basically just a huge festival and lotssss of Lights and food!!
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You’re welcome! Awesome! 🤗
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Just loved it
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Aw thanks!
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Wow, the pics look so bold and vibrant!
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https://www.fashionnotfear.com
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Aw thanks so much!
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Happy Chinese New Year! Happy year of the dogs! I was browsing the web and landed on your blog, and all your posts about China is a delight! I hope you’re having a fun time here! 你太可爱了!成都欢迎你!🐼 (PS, the Chinese numbing spice is 花椒, which is pronounced “Hua-jiao”! :’) love your posts!)
– love from a local
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Ahhh thanks!! I don’t speak Chinese yet but I am trying to learn haha! I am having a great time here, Happy year of the dog!!!
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What an explosion of colour! It seems like it was a riot at night, Courtney. I am curious about the power of wah joh 🙂 Your entire day sounds like fun and chaotic (what else do you expect in Asia ;)) xx
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Yea if you go to a Chinese restaurant ask them if they have any to try!!! And that’s an accurate description- fun and chaotic! haha! xx
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You know I am actually going to do that next time I am in China Town in NYC. xx
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Wow! Great pictures 😊 Must be a unique experience to be able to celebrate this.
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Yea it was definitely a unique experience! So fun!
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What a fun experience!! These pics are all amazing!
Krisztina | http://www.krisztinaclifton.com
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Aw thanks Krisztina!!
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Gorgeous decoration and the pictures are wonderful! Happy New Year to you… 🙂
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Aw thank you! Happy New Year!
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Lovely pics!
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Thank you!!
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It must be a truly incredible experience to be THERE for such a huge and amazing event (:
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Yea it was such an awesome experience!!!
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How cool that you got to experience a traditional Chinese New Year! I love all the colours and the lanterns! They look so spectacular 😀
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Thanks Angela! They sure love their lanterns!!
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What a beautiful festival! You’re right about Western food in Asia. Good American food is almost impossible to get, outside of the luxury hotels- and even then…. I had to tell myself, “Look, this is not why you are in Korea (and later, Taiwan).
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haha yesss so true! That is what I tell myself too- I didn’t come here for more American food! haha. Glad I’m not the only one who has felt the same!!
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This is so cool! Love the pictures
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Aw thanks girly 🙂
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Wow it looks so beautiful!! I would love to experience Chinese New Year Festival 😊 xx
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This looks like great fun! Fab photos! 😃 xo
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Happy Chinese New Year! The lights look incredible although I agree that the food doesn’t sound that great. Perhaps if you go again, eat beforehand?! xx
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Looks like a lot of fun. I love all of the lanterns.
http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
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All these photos are so beautiful!! xx
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So fun! ❤
BlondieintheCity.com
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So cool!!! Beautiful pictures! 🙂
Have a great weekend, kisses
Agnese & Elisa
http://desiresinstyle.com/
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This is amazing! I went to China a few years ago (albeit not during New years) but I remember the crowds that we alone brought as if we were celebrities. I am desperate to go back!
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It’s a cool feeling, right?! Hope you get the chance to come back sometime!
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Ahhh I’ve been wanting to experience the festival of lights every year but never got round to going! It looks amazing! ❤
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I hope you get a chance to check it out next year, it’s so worth it!
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I’m going to make sure I do! Will you be going again? ❤
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A sign should represent us. It should not only give indications about our business.
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This looks like it would be so much fun! Lovely photos!
Kathrin | Polar Bear Style
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Thanks Kathrin, it was!
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My favourite Chinese New Year food?
Definitely yeesang!
Though you can find this dish mainly in my home country, Malaysia or Singapore.
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Oooo I’m not sure I’ve heard of this! I will have to ask for it at the restaurants! And if I go to Malaysia or Singapore I will make sure to look for it.
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This sounds like a great trip! You’d think they’d let you know about the numbing ingredients!!! Lol
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Right!!! haha oh well..
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I could get lost in the phantasy world created by photographer Katharina Jung.
http://www.epursestore.com
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Courtney, I have a cousin living in Hong Kong. Interested in another expat to connect with? Alice Middleton
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Hey Mrs. Middleton! That is so awesome you have a cousin in Hong Kong! I’d love to connect with them!!
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Ahh so beautiful and looks like a lot of fun! Happy year of the dog!
Enclothed Cognition
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Thanks it was so awesome!!
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Oh gosh what a celebration! Thanks for bringing us along 🙂
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Thanks for reading Christy!
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Wow wow! What an amazing experience, and it’s now one I want to add to my bucket list! Lovely pictures as well.
Emily Kay || http://emilykay.co/
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Hope you get to experience it some day! Thanks for reading Emily!
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Fabulous pictures! It was just like being there!
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Thanks for reading girl!!
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I have attended Lunar new year twice in china and vietnam, its an experience in its own. Only down side is whole county closes during the festival. Ur pictures are very nice 👍
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What a beautiful festival!
Please check out my blog on vegetarianism and veganism in Chinese food in Canada: https://whitegirlchinesefood.wordpress.com
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