Recommendations for Beijing's Chinese New Year Fairs

The Spring Festival is just around the corner! As the holiday approaches, a festive atmosphere is spreading across Beijing's streets and neighborhoods. Are you still making a shopping list? Save this curated guide to some of the city's best Chinese New Year fairs and make your home full of that festive atmosphere.

#1 30th Old Beijing Chinese New Year Fair

The 30th Old Beijing Chinese New Year Fair, held at the National Agricultural Exhibition Center , will last until February 14. Visitors can purchase specialty foods from across the country. This year, a "New Year Gift Fair" has also been set up with various cultural products, such as mortise-and-tenon wooden blocks and clay figurines of Tu'er Ye (Lord Rabbit). Intangible cultural heritage inheritors and artists will also demonstrate traditional skills such as sugar figure making and sugar painting on-site.

#2 Chinese New Year Fair at The Grand Summit, Liangmaqiao

The fair will remain open on February 1, 6, 7 and 8, featuring many items full of the ambiance of the Spring Festival, such as handwritten Spring Festival couplets and handmade Chinese New Year paintings. There are also Chinese pastry gift boxes, bread, cakes, chocolates, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, making the fair ideal for holiday gift shopping.

#3 Daji Xiang's Spring Festival Fair

This fair opened on January 25 and will last until March 3, featuring more than 30 lifestyle and design brands. The intangible cultural heritage handicraft workshop also allows visitors to learn more about traditional Chinese handicraft techniques such as paper-cutting and shadow puppetry, while experts from the Forbidden City Publishing House will host talks on the cultural inheritance of the Beijing Central Axis. The treasure-hunt-style tour encourages visitors to collect stamps and redeem festive gift bags. The fair also features talent shows, intangible cultural heritage-inspired flash mobs, traditional snacks, and Chinese New Year goods.

#4 Tongzhou's "Canal Fairs"

[Photo via Beijing Tongzhou Fabu]

The "Canal Fairs" consist of eight themed fairs, including Yongledian Fair, Huo County Fair, Xiji Fair, Zhangjiawan Fair, Maqiao Fair, Yujiawu Fair, Taihu Fair, and Taihu Yanyi Market-Gongyuanli Fair. Until March 3, a dazzling array of cultural activities will be launched at these fairs.

#5 1st Madajie Chinese New Year Goods Carnival

The first-ever Madajie Chinese New Year Goods Carnival, taking place at Changjin Road in Shunyi District, opened on January 24 and will last until February 12. The market features nearly 60 brands, with stands selling foods, daily necessities, and all sorts of household items. An intangible cultural heritage experience area has also been set up, where visitors can try activities such as blowing sugar figures and making crisp candies. On weekends, dragon and lion dances, drum performances, and diyangge (a traditional folk dance from northern China), will be staged in rotation.

Sources: Beijing Daily, Beijing Chaoyang, Beijing Shunyi