Destination: China Activity Sidekick

We have curated some fun additions for your Chinese New Year Fun!

  • Population: more than 1.43 billion people live in China (2020). The majority of people live in cities and towns.
  • Capital: Beijing with 21.7 million inhabitants is not only China’s capital city but also the second biggest city after Shanghai.
  • Name: People’s Republic of China (PRC)
  • Government: Republic, communist state
  • Languages: Mandarin or Standard Chinese (official language), while Cantonese (Yue) and Shanghainese (Wu) are among other most spoken languages
  • Literacy: More than 96% can read and write.
  • Religion: No main religion, as religious memberships are not supported by the government. Main religions are Buddhist (18%), Christian 5%, Muslim 1.8%, Taoist, Hindu, and Folk Religions (22%)
  • Currency: 1 Renmimbi (Yuan) equals 100 Jiao
  • Flag colors: red with five golden stars
  • National day: 1 October  – in 1949 the People’s Republic of China was formed
  • National symbols: dragon and giant panda
  • National Colors: red and yellow
  • National anthem: ‘March of the Volunteers’
  • History: For many centuries, China has been one of the most advanced civilizations accomplishing major scientific and artistic treasures. The Xia and Shang dynasties are considered the oldest Chinese civilizations. Over the centuries many emperors ruled the country, the last emperor of China, the last ruler of the Qing dynasty, was Pu Yi who abdicated in 1912. In the 20th century, the world was shaken by bloody wars and from 1937-1945 Japan occupied large industrial areas in China and took over the Chinese government. Since 1949 the Communist Party of China rules the country. The current president of the People’s Republic of China is Xi Jinping.

Decorating Ideas

Make these easy and decorative paper lanterns!

Use our masks and our China coloring pages for individual fun or for a party

We also have a dragon papercraft for your residents to enjoy

Decorate with the color red!

One Chinese New Year custom is to hang red paper decorations in windows and elsewhere. It is believed that this tradition derives from an ancient legend involving a beast called Nian (the name is a Chinese word for “year”), who was known to be terrified of the color red.

Red also symbolizes power, happiness and vitality, so you’ll want to use red wherever you can in your decor. For example, string up red paper lanterns, or place pretty red flowers in vases all around the room. 

But be sure to use gold accents!

Although traditional Chinese New Year decor is red, it is accented with gold. Gold represents wealth, good fortune and prosperity.

It is also a new year tradition to write messages wishing good luck, good fortune, wealth, prosperity and longevity and to place those messages where people will find them. For an added touch, write the messages in gold ink on red paper. You can even make the invitations red with gold writing.


Food & Beverage Ideas

Chinese New Year Dishes

Food is one of the things that the Chinese take the most pride in. And of course, a lot of care and thought is put into the menu for the most important holiday of the year.

As with Chinese New Year activities and decorations, the dishes are created to give blessings for the next year. Both the names and looks are symbols of wishes for prosperity, happiness, and auspiciousness.

  • Spring Rolls
  • Dumplings – the more you eat, the more your luck grows!
  • Steamed Fish
  • Steamed Chicken
  • Nian Gao “rice cake” or “New Year cake”
  • Hot Pot
  • Chow Mein
  • Tofu
  • Sweet and sour pork
  • Peking Duck
  • Dim Sum

Activities

Here’s a link to our printable Activity Booklet that can be done solo!

Crafts

Sweep away the bad luck!!

Clean your home before the start of the Chinese New Year—as is traditionally done to sweep away bad luck from the current year. Then, when guests arrive, have them remove their shoes at the door to encourage a clean and smooth transition into the new year.

YouTube Links

Travel

Music

Foods


Movies

  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2000, PG-13, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
  • To Live, 1994, Not Rated, Drama, War
  • Raise the Red Lantern, 1991, PG, Drama, History, Romance
  • Yellow Earth, 1984, TV-PG, Drama, History, Music
  • In Expectation / Rainclouds Over Wushan, 1996, Comedy, Drama
  • Shower, 1999, PG-13. Comedy, Drama
  • The Spring River Flows East, 1947, Drama, War
  • Beijing Bicycle, 2001, PG-13, Drama
  • Seven Years in Tibet, 1997, PG-13, Adventure, Biography, Drama
  • Hero, 2002, PG-13, Action, Adventure, History
  • Crazy Rich Asians, 2019, PG-13, Romantic Comedy