Chinese Year of the Snake: How and where to celebrate it in Dubai

The 15-day festivities for the Chinese New Year have kick-started today with a bang in Dubai, with many landmarks in the city decking up for the celebrations.

With China playing a significant role in Dubai’s economic growth, it’s only natural that top hotels are cooking up a storm to ensure that the celebrations, which are mostly culinary, are top-class and authentic.

Also known as the ‘spring festival’, the Chinese New Year marks the end of the rice harvest, and is traditionally celebrated with lavish feasts.

The Burj Al Arab will light up its exterior with the image of a red calligraphic snake to mark the first day of the Year of the Snake.

In the evening the hotel will be hosting Chinese dignitaries and their families for a traditional lighting of the lion’s eyes that will be followed by a lion dance. Apart from Chinese music, Chinese delicacies will also be served, a hotel staffer said.

The festivities will continue for a week, with many Chinese guests expected to join in on the celebrations that will have ‘fa gao’ (Chinese cupcake) and a new year cake ‘nian gao’.

Radisson Blu Hotel’s China Club will join in with a set menu, along with traditional raffle draws.