Chinese New Year's Eve!

Shanghai comes ALIVE on Chinese New Year's Eve! What a spectacle! 

The night is best experienced in photos as it's difficult to put into words... but I'll try my best.  

Here's the quick synopsis (but friends, feel free to add / comment!) : Chinese New Year's Eve is the start of the Chinese Spring Festival, which lasts 15 days. It's about a belief in good fortune and a chance to start out the new year on the right foot with family and friends.

The "warnings" we received: 1. Everyone leaves town & the city will be empty... but what does that mean?!?! 2. The temple area will be PACKED with millions of Chinese celebrating, 3. The fireworks last all night. Now, it was out turn to figure out what this all really means, and I can assure you that the fireworks part is 150% true. 

It took some time researching to figure out where to go and what to do on the New Year's Eve, but first we headed back to the Yuyuan Gardens / City Temple of God to see the preparations for the ceremony. We were prepared for packed squares and the need to arrive early to see anything. We read online the ceremony was from 9:30pm - 12:30am, so we were aiming to arrive at 8pm, as we are experienced NYC parade goers. However, we were shocked with how empty the area was (although this was consistent with the deserted feel of our own neighborhood). Now, I'm certain we missed out on something, but the square made for some great photos!!! 

Then we were off to a 10pm dinner reservation with a view on The Bund to checkout the fireworks displays. The Bund was definitely more populated with locals, visiting Chinese and plenty of Expats. The food was delicious as was the view. This is where you really see the city come to life at night. It's what postcards are made of. 

The true highlight of the night was the unbelievable display of fireworks. From our dinner view on The Bund, to the taxi ride home and to our own home balcony, there were fireworks on display at every single turn. Supposedly, there is no "government sanctioned" fireworks display, they are EVERYWHERE. The displays are set off by families, apartment complexes, anyone really. It was wild! While the crescendo was at midnight, they started before we left around 7pm and continued well into 2am in the morning. It was WILD!!!!!

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Back to Yuyuan! Year of the Snake!

Walk across the "9 Turn Bridge" said to bring good luck when you walk across as the evil spirits can't follow you across the 9 zig-zags.

 

a walk along The Bund, pre-dinner

cocktails at Glamour Bar

View from dinner at New Heights on The Bund (delicious)

FIREWORKS!!! This is pics of firework displays all over the city on our taxi ride home, including a show in our apartment complex courtyard.

Video at midnight from our balcony. Sounded like the city was exploding!