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Shenzhen Lunar New Year: Culture and Modernity

MY FIRST LUNAR NEW YEAR IN CHINA 🐲🍊🎇

Destination:ChinaCity:ShenzhenPopulation: 17.6 million

China travel video

MY FIRST LUNAR NEW YEAR IN CHINA 🐲🍊🎇. This China travel video was filmed by Katherine's Journey to the East 阳离子东游记. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

What do ancestors eat on CNY? Why is there lettuce in the traditional lion dance? Why are there red scraps all over the ground? Where can you find some corners of traditional culture in ultra-modernized ultra-urbanized Shenzhen, a city of 12 million inhabitants? Join us and find out! 🎇

Spring Festival

--- Katherine's Journey to the East 阳离子东游记
February 17, 2021, Winter in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Katherine's first Lunar New Year in Shenzhen takes her from a Buddhist temple to Tsutong village, where families continue holiday traditions amid the modern city. She sees offerings to ancestors, including geese, alcohol, tangerines, gold, and money, and learns about firecrackers used to ward off evil spirits. A local invites her to lunch, and a lion dance parade leads her through temple visits, symbolic vegetables, and a Chilean dance performance. Katherine also explores preserved villages where artists help sustain local culture.

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More about the current video:(Published on 2021-02-17)

MY FIRST LUNAR NEW YEAR IN CHINA 🐲🍊🎇

Lunar New Year traditions in Shenzhen

Katherine visits Shenzhen during Lunar New Year and explores traditions beyond the city's modern skyline. At a Buddhist temple, she sees families make offerings to ancestors. The offerings vary by family and village and include geese, alcohol, tangerines, gold, money, and US dollars. A local invites her into a home to see the offerings there. Katherine also explains the use of firecrackers during the holiday, a practice believed to ward off evil spirits.

In Tsutong village, Katherine meets friendly residents and experiences the community's holiday activities. A lion dance performance is one of the day's central events. The dance is meant to scare away evil spirits, and spring onions and lettuce used in the performance represent new beginnings and wealth. A smaller local troupe also performs a Chilean dance. The village visit gives Katherine a look at traditions maintained within Shenzhen's urban setting.

Lion dances and preserved villages

The lion dance parade takes Katherine through multiple temples and combines performance with ritual. Offerings and temple visits show that customs differ between families and villages. Firecrackers add sound and activity to the celebrations, and local people explain what the practices mean to them. Katherine's interactions provide a personal view of the holiday rather than a single account of every family's customs.

The visit also includes preserved villages in Shenzhen. Artists have helped revitalize these areas, creating a connection between art, tourism, and the preservation of rural culture. Katherine reflects on how these villages retain traditions within a rapidly developing city. Her journey brings together ancestor worship, firecrackers, lion and Chilean dances, and village preservation. She closes by wishing viewers a happy Lunar New Year and expressing appreciation for the cultural experiences she encountered.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What kinds of offerings did Katherine see for ancestors?
A: Offerings varied by family and village. Katherine saw geese, alcohol, tangerines, gold, money, and US dollars at a home and temple.
Q: Why are firecrackers set off during Lunar New Year?
A: The tradition is believed to ward off evil spirits. Katherine describes the loud firecrackers as part of the holiday celebrations.
Q: What do spring onions and lettuce mean in the lion dance?
A: They symbolize new beginnings and wealth. Katherine sees them included in the lion dance performance.

Previous travel video:

Shenzhen Lunar New Year: Culture and Modernity

What do ancestors eat on CNY? Why is there lettuce in the traditional lion dance? Why are there red scraps all over the ground? Where can you find some corners of traditional culture in ultra-modernized ultra-urbanized Shenzhen, a city of 12 million inhabitants? Join us and find out! 🎇 Spring...

Shenzhen Lunar New Year: Traditions & Villages

Katherine's Lunar New Year adventure in China unveils the captivating blend of ancient traditions and modern urban life. Witness the vibrant lion dance, explore the unique culinary customs, and discover hidden pockets of traditional culture amidst the bustling metropolis of Shenzhen. A journey that's both enlightening and entertaining!

Attractions in this video: Buddhist Temple, Tsutong Village