Beijing's Chinese New Year Celebrations Top Them All!

Shijingshan Amusement Park (shi jing shan you le yuan)
Temple Fairs with a foreign touch
Time: Feb. 11-17
Activities: markets, snacks, book fairs, western cultural parade, dance show, amusement programs
Admission: 5 yuan
Getting there: Subway (ba jiao you le yuan);buses 337, 747, 817, 728
Tel: 6887-4060

Puwa, Fangshan District
Celebrate a real traditional Chinese New Year
Location: Baoshui Folk Culture Village, Puwa, Fangshan District Date: Feb. 10-16
Activities: Experience the local countryside tradition of celebrating New Year in all its aspects
Admission: 60 yuan/person (including one-night stay in a local home, three meals and open-air evening party)
Getting there: Bus 917 from Tianqiao, alight at Fangshan and board minibus to Puwa. Get off at Tianlong Shanzhuang. Motorists should take the Jingshi Expressway and exit at Liulihe. Head for Ten Ferries, then Puwa.
Tel: 6134-8645

Yonghegong Lamasery
Spring Festival Buddhist activities
Date: March 7-14
Activities: Religious
Admission: 15 yuan
Getting there: Subway (yong he gong), or buses 13, 807, 116
Tel: 6404-4499, ext. 320

Daying Tourist Resort
Welcome Chinese New Year with all-night celebrations at this Tongzhou District resort
Date: Feb. 10-16
Activities: Parties, Yangko dance, folk performances, fireworks, barbecues
Getting there: Bus 938 (da ying stop)
Tel: 8958-2543

Longtan Lake
Temple Fairs
Date: Feb. 9-17
Folklore performances, folk arts and crafts, snack street, martial arts performance
Admission: 6 yuan
Getting there: Buses 6, 60, 116, 12, 352, 607, 958, 807
Tel: 6714-4336

Grand View Garden
Temple Fairs and parade
Date: Feb. 12-17
Parade of traditionally costumed imperial families, ice-skating performance, riddles, book fairs, folk arts-and-crafts show. Admission: 8 yuan
Getting there: Buses 19, 59, 61, 122, 351, 49, 819, 816, 716, 414
Tel: 6354-4994; 6354-2299, ext. 506

Hongluo Temple
Huairou County
Temple Fairs
Date: Feb. 12-18
Snacks, bell-ringing, flowers, calligraphy exhibition, Peking Opera performance
Admission: 30 yuan
Getting there: Bus 916 or 936 from Dongzhimen, alight at Huairou and take a taxi (10 yuan) to the temple
Tel: 6068-1636

Chaoyang Park
Markets and entertainment
Date: Feb. 9-18
A wide range of entertainment programs, plus art performance, markets and a snack street
Admission: 10 yuan
Getting there: Buses 302, 710, 43, 115, 705, 419
Tel: 6507-6786

Hancunhe Village
Experience a traditional Chinese New Yearat this village in Fangshan District
Date: Feb. 11-26
Stay in a local home, make dumplings, enjoy fireworks, and pick fresh fruits and vegetables
Getting there: Bus 917 (special Hancunhe line), or drive via Jingshi Expressway and follow road signs
Tel: 8038-0015; 8038-0493

Ten Ferries
Date: Feb. 11-26
Visit the spectacular ice falls at Ten Ferries, then stay over at a local villager's home to experience a country-style Chinese New Year
Getting there: Bus 917 from Tianqiao
Tel: 6134-0520; 6134-0085

Cangmi Ancient Path (cang mi gu dao)
Enjoy Yanqing County to the full by staying in the folklore village to celebrate Chinese New Year
Date: Feb. 12-18
Activities include fireworks, learning to write Chinese couplets, eating local food while staying with a village family Admission: 45 yuan/day/person
Getting there: Bus 919 from Deshengmen to Yanqing, change to minibus which takes you to Cangmi Gudao
Tel: 6918-2717

Ditan Park
Cultural Temple Fairs
Date: Feb. 10-18
Witness the imperial ceremony which offers sacrifices to the earth; plus traditional folk art demonstration and variety shows.
Getting there: Buses 18, 104, 108, 358, 27, 113
Tel: 6421-6870; 6421-4657

Yaoqiaoyu Folk Culture Village
Yaoqiaoyu Village, Xinchengzi Township, Miyun CountyMeet 50 true villagers, descendants of warriors from ancient Yaoqiaoyu Castle. Plus fireworks, making beancurd, performing spring couplets, welcoming new gods and sending New Year greetings Date: Feb. 1- March 5
Admission: 15 yuan/person/night: 25 yuan/person/three meals Getting there: Take luxury bus from Dongzhimen to Miyun, and change to bus for Yaoqiaoyu
Tel: 8102-2928

Changdian
Liulichang StreetTraditional Temple Fairs, plus shopping, traditional artwork demonstrations and snacks
Date: Feb. 12-18
Getting there: Buses 53, 50, 6, 102, 66, 25, 14, 15
Tel: 8315-5853