Fascinating dragon parade: This is how Chiang Mai celebrates the New Year!
Experience Chinese New Year in Asia: Top destinations, cultural highlights and festive activities in 2026.

Fascinating dragon parade: This is how Chiang Mai celebrates the New Year!
As the festive spirit of Chinese New Year approaches, many travelers are drawn to the beating heart of Asia. Thailand offers a variety of cultural highlights that delight both locals and tourists. This year, the historic Tha Phae Gate will host an impressive dragon parade, while the Pung Tao Kong Shrine will host beauty pageants and cultural performances. These events provide a vivid insight into Thai heritage and traditions that flourish especially around the New Year, as Nation Thailand reports.
But Thailand is not the only thing on the travel list. Among Thai travelers, Tokyo, Osaka and Taipei are the most sought-after destinations during the Chinese festival. What's particularly exciting is that Taipei landed in the top three for the first time. This indicates a growing interest in taking culturally impactful short trips. Anyone interested in the country's traditions will find many people at Longshan Temple paying respect and praying for good luck.
Cultural journeys under the sign of the horse
Agoda highlights that the Year of the Horse is associated with energy and adventure. It motivates travelers to explore the diversity of Asian travel destinations. Chinese New Year is not only a symbol of new beginnings and spring, but also a time for meaningful travel and personal reunions.
Other Asian cities are also very popular throughout the region. In addition to the cities already mentioned, popular travel destinations during Chinese New Year include Seoul, Fukuoka, Kuala Lumpur, Sapporo, Singapore and Hong Kong. These places offer a mix of traditional culture, festive events and a unique atmosphere that captivates travelers.
A celebration of coming together
For many people, Chinese New Year is not just a celebration, but an opportunity to nurture relationships and have new experiences. While the dragon parade and activities at Tha Phae Gate impressively represent Thailand's cultural heritage, the travel routes to other Asian capitals show that the desire for discovery and joy extends far beyond national borders.
Overall, Chinese New Year offers an excellent opportunity for good business in the travel industry. Whether you choose cultural experiences in Thailand or exciting adventures in other Asian cities, the options are as diverse as the festival itself.