Chinese New Year has long ceased to be an exclusively Asian event. Today, it is celebrated on every continent, and in some cities across Europe and America, the scale of the festivities impresses even seasoned travelers. For Spaniards, it’s not only a chance to experience another culture, but also an opportunity to see how traditions transform familiar streets.
Festivities in China
In China, New Year is a time when millions set out on journeys to reunite with family. Cities are awash in red, and temples become focal points for those hoping for good luck in the coming year. In Beijing, crowds flock to the Lama Temple; in Shanghai, to dazzling light shows and markets; while in Guangzhou, flower markets symbolize prosperity. Hong Kong impresses with grand parades and fireworks over the harbor, and in Xi’an and Chengdu, lantern festivals and traditional performances take place.
Asian Megacities
Singapore turns into a vast stage: thousands of lanterns, street processions, and the famous Chingay Parade with acrobats and dancers. In Kuala Lumpur, where the Chinese diaspora is particularly large, streets and shopping centers burst with red decorations, and the Thean Hou Temple atop the hill draws crowds of worshippers and tourists. Taiwan celebrates on an especially grand scale: after family dinners, the island prepares for the Lantern Festival, when the skies over Pingxi and Taipei are illuminated by hundreds of paper lanterns carrying wishes.
Festive Geography
In Manila, home to one of the world’s oldest Chinatowns, the streets fill with the aromas of street food, and lion and dragon dances accompany every step. Sydney impresses with its scale: parades, art installations, markets, and waterfront shows make this celebration one of the most prominent outside Asia. In London, the city center transforms into a stage for processions, concerts, and theatrical performances, while Chinatown and Trafalgar Square become the epicenter of the festivities.
Spain and America
In Madrid, the Usera district has, over the past few years, become the true center of Chinese New Year celebrations in Spain. Here, dragon parades, calligraphy workshops, dances, street performances, and themed dinners in local restaurants take place. In San Francisco, home to one of the largest Chinese communities in the US, the annual night parade draws thousands of spectators, as the streets of Chinatown fill with music and the aromas of Asian cuisine. In Vancouver, the festival is celebrated with marches, cultural programs, and workshops in the classical Chinese garden, where you can watch traditional martial arts and calligraphy demonstrations.
Chinese New Year is not just about turning a page on the calendar. It is a time when cities around the world come closer together and traditions take on new meaning. For Spaniards, taking part in these celebrations is a chance to broaden their horizons, feel part of the global community, and discover unexpected sides of familiar cities.
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is celebrated according to the lunar calendar and each year is associated with one of the animals of the Eastern zodiac. In 2026, the symbol is the Dragon—a sign of strength, luck, and change. The celebration lasts for two weeks and ends with the Lantern Festival. During this period, millions of people around the world decorate their homes, prepare special dishes, give each other red envelopes with money, and release wishing lanterns into the sky. In Spain, interest in this holiday grows every year, and Usera in Madrid is already being called the new center of Chinese culture on the Iberian Peninsula.
