A Beijinger's Guide to CNY, Day Two

原创 Irene Li theBeijinger

收录于合集

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The second day of Lunar New Year has arrived! What are some things people do today?

1. Worship the God of Money
One of the most important traditions of the second day of Lunar New Year is to worship the god of money. People visit temples (more common during a non-pandemic year) to pray for good fortune for the entire year. They also offer sacrifices like fish and lamb to show respect.

On this day, many places have sacrificial ceremonies. One place many Beijingers go to is 八大处 Bādàchù, which is close to Fragrant Hills and the Western Hills on the west side of the city. You can also head to Huairou District and visit Hongluo Temple (红螺寺 hóngluó sì), which is about 34 miles northeast of downtown Beijing, to pray for good luck.

Are you ready to burn some incense at Badachu?

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2. Eat wontons
As if dumplings weren't enough, the second day of Chinese New Year is reserved entirely for another pouch of meaty goodness: wontons! Lao Beijingers wake up before the sun rises to make these treats, but if you want to forgo making them and get straight to the luck, head over to any 南城香 Nánchéngxiāng location and chomp down on some delicious shrimp wontons.

If, on the other hand, you're looking for something vegetarian, say, mushrooms mixed with water chestnut, I'd recommend trying Yuanji Dumplings (袁记云饺 yuánjì yún jiǎo), another great restaurant with multiple locations across the city.

I can never get enough of the shrimp wontons at Nanchengxiang!

3. Family reunion dinners
You've probably already had your reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve with your family or friends. So why bother with another dinner, right? Well, in Chinese culture, the dinner on the second day of the new year celebration matters a lot because it can affect your luck for the entire year. Make sure to treat yourself to some juicy chicken or braised pork in brown sauce.

Many places in town will be perfect for reunion dinners, and what’s better than celebrating Chinese New Year with authentic Beijing flavors? You can head to 总布胡同 Zǒngbù Hútòng for their crispy Peking duck, or hop on over to 新城北京菜 Xīnchéng Běijīng Cài for their roast meat. You won't regret it!