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Chinese New Year

English: Chinese New Year, Portuguese: Ano-Novo Chinês, Traditional: 農曆正月, Simplified: 唐人新年

Chinese New Year is the most important festival in the lunar calendar.

Given the size of the Chinese population in Macau, it’s also the best time of the year to visit and participate in many exciting events.

Chinese New Year Macau, 2025 Dates, Parade, Fireworks, Events

The first day of the new year always starts on the new moon, which occurs anytime from January 21st to February 20th. Even though the dates of the festival change each year, one thing doesn’t: the grand scale of the celebrations.

As the biggest event in Macau each year, there is always something exciting to look forward to – in fact, many travellers plan their visit around the New Year festivities.

You can choose from many ways to usher in the Chinese New Year. There will always be breathtaking fireworks displays around the city, especially since fireworks manufacturing was one of Macau’s leading industries from the 1950s to the ’60s.

During this Lunar New Year, Macao organizes a series of festive celebrations for residents and visitors, including a gigantic golden dragon parade, community roadshow, float parades, fireworks displays, Chinese New Year market, firecrackers and fireworks zones, outdoor performances, cycling tour, temporary pedestrian zone in Taipa Village, to spread the cheers and blessings for an auspicious year ahead.

The Macau Tower typically has an extravaganza of fireworks, which can be seen from numerous viewpoints nearby, especially along the tower’s base or the Taipa waterfront.

The New Year’s parade at Senado Square is not to be missed each year. It’s the biggest parade in the country, featuring large dancing lions, intricately decorated floats, a long, winding dragon, and so much more. All these make the historic Senado Square come alive, while the contrast of old and new, East meets West, is truly special. From here, the parade travels to Lilau Square, Sai Van Lake Square, A-Ma Temple, and many other UNESCO World Heritage landmarks.

It has also become a tradition to visit the local flower markets during this event because people traditionally decorate their homes with flowers or give them as gifts around this time of year.

“Happy Chinese New Year” activity programme – Chinese New Year Activities 2025

The “Happy Chinese New Year” activity programme – Chinese New Year Activities 2025 will be held in the mornings of the first to the third day of the Lunar New Year (29-31 January) at the Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, Mount Fortress, Barra Square, the Leisure Area in Edifício Lok Yeung Fa Yuen, Open space adjacent to Garden of Flower City and Eduardo Marques Garden in Coloane, respectively.

Ethnic shows will be presented, including performances by the Hebei Provincial Song and Dance Theatre, Guizhou Congjiang Folk Art Troupe, Guizhou Provincial Song and Dance Theatre and Guizhou Provincial Acrobatic Troupe, etc., featuring a variety of folk dances, musical instruments and acrobatic performances that symbolize the joyous and festive features of the Lunar New Year.

In addition, from the first to the third afternoons of the Lunar New Year, a variety of Chinese New Year performances with the flavours of Hebei and Guizhou will be staged at the shores of the Anim’Arte Nam Van, where there will also be an exhibition of ethnic handicrafts by representative bearers of Hebei’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, who will display and sell their handicrafts, such as woodcarving from the Jingxing County, gold and silver craftsmanship, interior painting, Ting ceramics firing and lacquer carving; Guizhou Province’s non-heritage items on display, bringing batik techniques, indigo dyeing craft, Miao silver forging techniques, bamboo weaving techniques, clay cowhide, etc., so that the public and tourists can learn about the country’s traditional crafts and culture, adding to the city’s spring festival atmosphere.

Chinese New Year Festivities at Rua da Felicidade

Explore a lively Chinese New Year Market full of delicious flavours and handmade cultural products hosted by Wynn as part of a series of colourful events designed to support local businesses and spread joy in the historic district of Rua da Felicidade during the Spring Festival.

Be sure to stop by the Wynn Bar at Fulong to savour one of their creative drinks, and keep an eye out for festive pop-up performances.

You can even enjoy special game plays and lucky Chinese New Year gift bags with designated spending. To make your new year even more auspicious, the “God of Wealth” will make a very special appearance to spread good fortune in what promises to be a truly local experience.

Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Snake

The snake is one of the 12 zodiac signs of traditional Chinese culture, containing rich and colourful cultural connotations, symbolizing longevity, wisdom, spirituality, strength, and possessing keen discernment and adaptability.

2025 is the year of the Snake, a year full of auspicious wishes, unfolding bright prospects and development potential to Macao, an international metropolis where Chinese and Western cultures merge. The Chinese New Year Parade celebrates the Year of the Snake and wishes Macao tremendous vitality and prosperity as a shining pearl and a treasured place of the great motherland!

First Parade with floats and performances
Event Date and Time: 31st January 2025, Friday (3rd day of Lunar New Year), 8pm – 9:45pm
Parade Route: (Starting point) Sai Van Lake SquareAv. Dr. Sun Yat-SenMacao Science CenterMacau Fisherman’s Wharf (Ending point)
Cultural performance: Sai Van Lake Square
Performance Groups: Local, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Culture City of East Asia and Overseas performance groups
Parade Floats: 17 parade floats (8 from Government Departments: MGTO, Asia Tourism Exchange Center, DSEDT, IAM, IPIM, IC, ID, Economic Development Bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and nine floats from local and Hengqin entities).
Public Stands: Sai Van Lake Square, Avenida Dr Sun Yat Sen, Square in front of Kun Iam Ecumenical Center, Roundabout of Macao Science Center and Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Roman Amphitheater

Second Parade with floats and cultural performances
Event Date and Time: 8th February 2025, Saturday (11th day of Lunar New Year), 8pm – 9:30pm
Parade Route: (Starting point) Estrada Marginal da Ilha VerdeAv. do Conselheiro BorjaEstrada do ArcoEstrada da Areia PretaAv. de Venceslau de MoraisRua Quatro do Bairro da Areia PretaAv. da LongevidadeRua do Mercado de Iao HonIao Hon Market Garden (Ending point)
Cultural Performance: Iao Hon Market Garden
Parade Floats: 17 parade floats (8 from Government Departments: MGTO, Asia Tourism Exchange Center, DSEDT, IAM, IPIM, IC, ID, Economic Development Bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and nine floats from local and Hengqin entities).
Spectators area: Starting point at Estrada Marginal da Ilha Verde, along the parade route to the ending point at Iao Hon Market Park.

Parade Float Exhibition
Macau Fisherman’s Wharf: 1st to 7th February 2025, 5pm to 10pm
Tap Seac Square: 9th to 16th February 2025, 5pm to 10pm

Chinese New Year Fireworks Displays
Located at the seafront of Macau Tower

Date and Time
31st January 2025, 9:45pm (3rd day of Lunar New Year)
4th February 2025, 9:00pm (7th day of Lunar New Year)
12th February 2025, 9:00pm (15th day of Lunar New Year)

Best viewing spots
Avenida Dr Sun Yat Sen between Kun Iam Ecumenical Center and Kun Iam Statue Waterfront Leisure Area, Macao Science Centre Waterfront Promenade, Anim’Art NAM VAN, Avenida de Sagres (next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Macau), Caminho Marginal do Lago (next to YOHO Treasure Island Resorts World Hotel) and Avenida do Oceano da Taipa.

Barra Lucky Blessing Market

In Chinese tradition, it’s said that those blessed with good fortune naturally find joy and luck. These blessings can be found in the warmth of a winter coffee, the melodies that fill the air, or in a charming trinket that sparks fond memories.

This year, let’s follow the trail of happiness to the “Barra Lucky Blessing Market” of Barra District – a celebration of lifestyle and taste, brimming with lucky surprises: creative workshops for New Year prints from Prince Kung’s Palace Museum, exclusive collaborations and exhibitions by Japanese illustrator Shinri Murakami, popular music performances from across Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Mainland China, a chic market of trendy goods, and mouth-watering local dishes at the Barra Kitchen, along with a special pop-up café by Bookand in Barra District.

Come on! Let’s embrace the New Year’s art, trends, fun, and delight, and bring blessings home!

About the author

Holiday Point

Michael created and runs the Macau Travel Hub website, as well as the Holiday Point travel brand that incorporates a network of 16 location based travel information and attraction websites around Australia, Asia, and around the world.

With 25+ years of online experience and a passion for travel (having visited Macau many times and walked around nearly every single part of the City), Michael not only researches and writes content for the website, he also tinkers behind the scenes with the website functionality & design.

Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.

What date is the Chinese New Year?
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"Happy Chinese New Year" activity programme – Chinese New Year Activities 2025
2025-01-29: 10:30am - 11am at Rotunda de Carlos da Maia
2025-01-29: 12pm - 12:30pm at Mount Fortress
2025-01-29: 1:30pm - 5:30pm at Anim'Arte NAM VAN
2025-01-30: (10:30 ~ 11:00) at Barra Square
2025-01-30: 12pm - 12:30pm at Leisure Area at Edf. Lok Yeung Fa Yuen
2025-01-30: 1:30pm - 5:30pm at Anim'Arte NAM VAN
2025-01-31: 10:30am - 11am at Space next to Flower City Park
2025-01-31: 12pm - 12:30pm at Eduardo Marques Garden in Coloane
2025-01-31: 1:30pm - 5:30pm at Anim'Arte NAM VAN

Chinese New Year Festivities at Rua da Felicidade
January 31 to February 4

Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Snake
31st January, 2025, Friday (3rd day of Lunar New Year): 8pm - 9:45pm
8th February, 2025, Saturday (11th day of Lunar New Year): 8pm - 9:30pm

Parade Float Exhibition
Macau Fisherman’s Wharf: 1st to 7th February 2025, 5pm - 10pm
Tap Seac Square: 9th to 16th February 2025, 5pm - 10pm

Chinese New Year Fireworks Displays
31st January 2025, 9:45pm (3rd day of Lunar New Year)
4th February 2025, 9pm (7th day of Lunar New Year)
12th February 2025, 9pm (15th day of Lunar New Year)

Barra Lucky Blessing Market
January 24 to February 25 at Former Slaughterhouse Site, Barra District
12pm to 8pm on Monday to Friday; 11am to 9pm on Saturday, Sunday & Public Holiday

Please visit our website for more information on the Chinese New Year.
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