Sydney set to celebrate the Chinese New Year in spectacular style

Outside of Asia, you’re unlikely to find a more spectacular celebration of the Chinese Year of the Rabbit than in the city of Sydney. This major festival runs from the 28^th January – 13^th February, beginning with carnival celebrations and taking in everything from food markets and exhibitions to workshops and concerts. Here is our guide to festival highlights.

Twilight Parade

From the Town Hall stretching to Darlington Harbour, on Sunday 6^th February see Sydney alight with the glow of the lanterns, fireworks and dazzling costumes of this year’s Twilight Parade. A feast for the senses, you’ll find amazing floats and Chinese dragons, martial arts and dance displays, live music and gastronomic Asian delights, with over 2500 local and international performers taking part.

Chinese New Year Markets

Chinatown’s Belmore Park plays host to a sprawling Asian market from Friday 28th – Sunday 30th January. You’ll find food stalls and Chinese craft stalls, open-air film screenings, music and theatre performances and more. Take a guided tour of Chinatown, learn about the art of feng shui, attend free Chinese craft workshops and enjoy a spot of karaoke at this fantastic free event that’s fun for all the family.

The Terracotta Warriors

One of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century, the legendary Terracotta Warriors built for China’s first Emperor have slowly been making their way around the world to captive audiences. This year it’s Sydney’s chance to play host to this unique exhibition that coincides perfectly with the city’s major Chinese New Year celebrations.

Dragon Boat Races

The Dragon Boat Races have become a firm favourite at the Sydney Chinese New Year celebrations. This year head down to Cockle bay at Darlington Harbour for the biggest Dragon Boat race in the southern hemisphere. This traditional Chinese sport draws thousands of people to the Bay each year to soak up the excitement and have fun by the beach, with food stalls and entertainment for all the family from 12^th – 13^th February.

If you’d like to join in the Chinese New Year celebrations in Sydney this year, we recommend searching specialist vacation sites for the best deal on flights and accommodation. Check sites like DialAFlight for up-to-the-minute air fare deals to Sydney (you should be able to fly to Sydney from around £615) all year round.