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Menino80 · Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 73

I've been thinking about hitting up Taipei for Lunar New Year. What's the general consensus? Crowded? Crazy? Expensive?
I don't mind crowds or debauchery, but too much of either can get old. Thanks.

BigWally · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 5:30 am Post subject:

Looks like this...

and like this....

Jawnee · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Hsinchu

Actually the photos that Big Wally has shown us seem to be from the Calendar New Year (January 1).

Lunar New Year, this year at the end of January, is more of a family affair - think Christmas time in the West. It is actually kind of boring for someone who does not have family in Taiwan, and many teachers take a break from the island and go home, or go on a trip to another country.

Coming for December 31st would be more fun.

BigWally · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject:

Oops....my bad....yeah, those are from Western New Year, not Chinese New Year....sorry.

I was in Taipei for Chinese New Year as well, and basically the whole city is like a ghost town, I mean there are some shops and things open during the day, but at night its tough to find anything to do. We ended up wandering through temples (which were very busy as you could imagine), and then going to 7/11 getting some beers and shooting off fireworks in the streets to the wee hours.

I would HIGHLY recommend going to Taipei for Western New Year, but for Chinese New Year it was a bit of a bust.

Menino80 · Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 73

OK thanks for tips. Unfortunately my vacation is in January so I'll have pick somewhere else for LNY. Has anyone done Shanghai or HK?

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

I wouldn't be surprised if those places are as dead as Taiwan during CNY. It is THE most important holiday of the year, and it is exclusively for families to get together. Everyone leaves the cities for their hometowns, leaving the cities empty with the vast majority of businesses shut down. People don't party hearty at this time, they stay at home with their families.

Think of Christmas day, but spread out over 5 days, and this will give you an idea of what CNY is like.