5 Festive Travel Destinations for Your Chinese New Year Celebration

A list of Chinese New Year destinations in the Philippines would not be complete without Binondo, Manila. Binondo is the location of the oldest Chinatown in the world. It has been a hub for a diverse community of Filipinos, Chinese, and Chinese-Filipinos ever since its formative years.

Along the streets of Binondo are restaurants where you can dig into authentic Chinese delicacies such as dumplings, wonton, Peking duck, and more. Once your stomach is full, you can take a walking tour around the historical landmarks in the area to burn some calories. These landmarks include the Binondo Chinatown arc, Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, and the Temple of Kuang Kong—the Chinese God of War and patron of martial arts and scholars. Before heading home, you can visit some souvenir shops where you can buy keychains, memorabilia, lucky charms, and food. Of course, a visit in Binondo would not be complete without taking home a box of tikoy or rice cakes.

Ever since 2006, the city of Bacolod has been going all out every Lunar New Year with their Bacolaodiat Festival. The name of the festival is a combination of the words “Bacolod” and “Lao Diat,” which is a Fookien word for “celebration.” If you want to have an extravagant and activity-filled Chinese New Year, Bacolod has one of the busiest celebrations in the country. For one, you can either watch the lantern dance parade and symphony of lights fireworks show. You can also visit either the Imperial Village or the Yuan Thong Temple. As for your tummies, you can choose a bite to eat at the chopstick alley.

Aside from being a great spot for surfers and beach lovers, the province of La Union also possesses rich historical places. Tied with the Chinese culture, some of the must-see places in the province include the Ma-Cho Temple and the Pagoda Hill. These two landmarks are ideal for those who want to marvel at Chinese architecture while avoiding overcrowded areas. Ma-Cho Temple was constructed in 1975 and is seven stories high. Meanwhile, the Pagoda Hill is also known as the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Park and offers a 180 degree view of San Fernando City.

While Bacolod has the Bacolaodiat Festival, Baguio City takes pride in its own Spring Festival. The city’s Spring Festival showcases Chinese traditional dances and practices through a dragon dance, parade, and cultural performances. Regarded as one of the top tourist-friendly places in the Philippines, Baguio and its locals will definitely welcome any foreigner or visitors in joining the celebration. In addition to its Spring Festival, Baguio City has a Filipino-Chinese Friendship Pagoda found in Botanical Garden and the Taoist Bell Church that are both worth a visit.

For those who plan to have a mini staycation over the holiday, you can celebrate the Chinese New Year at Resorts World Manila. Just like the other places in the list, Resorts World has a jam-packed list of Chinese New Year festivities, from the eccentric dragon dance to the sumptuous Chinese dishes you can eat. After enjoying all the activities, you could also check in at one of its luxurious hotels.

Visit Yoorekka to discover more places in the Philippines for your Chinese New Year celebration!