With a history of more than 1,800 years, dumpling (饺子 Jiǎozi /jyaoww-dzrr/) is a classic lucky food for Lunar New Year, and a traditional dish eaten on Chinese New Year's Eve, widely popular in China, especially in North China. Glutinous rice cake – Niangao is also a common New Year food, as its name sounds like “getting higher year-on-year,” a wish for prosperity. 2. Chow Mein Noodles. Longevity noodles (Chang Shou Mian / chung-show mien) are another unsurprising addition to the Chinese New Year table. Also called Spring Festival in most of mainland China, Lunar New Year begins on the night of the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar, which is a bit shorter than the 365-day solar year. The 16-day festival season is celebrated with lots of traditional Chinese New Year foods that are prepared, served and eaten in symbolic ways. The act of sharing and enjoying these delectable pockets during the New Year celebrations becomes a communal tradition that extends beyond culinary delight, fostering a sense of togetherness and the belief in the prosperous journey that lies ahead. 20. Niangao (Chinese New Year Cake) Also, kids love this snack. I remember it’s an indispensable food for every meal during the new year when I was a child. Sticky Bean Bun (粘豆包 ) The word “sticky” in Chinese is pronounced “nian” which is the same way as the word “year” in Chinese, so “Sticky Bean Bun” is also considered relatively to symbolize Chinese New Popular in: southern China, especially in Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu provinces Taste: crispy, both sweet and salty The Spring Rolls originated in Fujian Province, but now it has become one of the necessary Chinese New Year desserts in most southern areas. It generally contains fresh vegetables and meat but sometimes sweet bean paste is also Chinese people eat foods with the symbols of good luck, prosperity, and happiness during the Chinese New Year. The lunar New Year 2025 is coming, try these traditional dishes with auspicious meanings and have good fortune in the new year. 1. Fish - Fortune and Abundance In many parts of China, tang yuan are eaten at the start of the Lantern Festival, marking the end of the Chinese New Year period, but in Shanghai and the south, they're eaten throughout the New Year festivities. The glutinous rice balls might be plain and the size of a small marble, or larger and stuffed with sweet black sesame paste. Food is one of the things that the Chinese take the most pride in. And of course, a lot of care and thought is put into the menu for the most important holiday of the year. As with Chinese New Year activities and decorations, the dishes are created to give blessings for the next year. The Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important festival in China: it lasts up to two weeks and is the only time of the year when China shuts down. Unlike Western countries, the Chinese New Year generally falls between January 21st and February 20th in the Gregorian calendar, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. If you want to experience Chinese culture during the Chinese New Year period, China Highlights' tours offer you the opportunity to celebrate a traditional Chinese New Year with a local family. See our most recommended tours below: 11-Day Classic Wonders of China Tour: top China sights and Chinese New Year celebrations with a local family in Guilin Spare ribs are first marinated, deep-fried, then dipped in Chinese sweet and sour sauce. Traditionally, the dish is served as an appetizer and is extremely popular in the southern parts of China. In Chinese culture, pork symbolizes prosperity, so the dish is often prepared and served for Chinese New Year. Mila Lucas, 11, of South Point, prepares to lead the dragon during a Chinese New Year celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, at the Ohio University Southern Library in Ironton, Ohio. Mention Chinese New Year food, dumplings, fish, glutinous rice balls, and niangao may come into mind. Food plays an important role in Chinese New Year and certain foods which have symbolic meanings of luck and auspiciousness are especially popular and essential during the festival. Here are 7 Chinese New Year Foods that will bring you good luck. 1. Mix white flour with a little water and salt, knead into a dough and bake it into round wrappers. 2. Add the filling — a vegetable and meat filling in most places, but a red bean paste filling is used in north China — on the wrappers Chinese New Year Decorations. No matter in northern or southern China, people will spend some time on Chinese New Year decorations. Normally people will decorate the house after cleaning up, with couplets, lanterns and New Year paintings. Chinese New Year Decorations Jiangsu food or Su cuisine has over 2000-year’s history and is considered gourmet in China. Key cooking techniques are braise, stew, steam and fry, with an emphasis on sauce and gravy. Dishes often have a tinge of sweetness, and a reddish shine from wine pickled food; artfully arranged for the most appetizing allure. Chinese New Year celebrations revolve around food and family Fish holds special symbolic importance and is integral to the traditional reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve The pronunciation of fish in Mandarin and Cantonese sounds like the words for “surplus” or “abundance”, so eating fish represents hopes for prosperity in the coming year. Every year, people from northern and southern China enthusiastically discuss the different Chinese New Year traditions on Weibo—Chinese Twitter. These range from food and decorations to celebrating different days during the Lunar New Year. The Role of Food in Chinese New Year Celebrations. Food plays a central role in Chinese New Year festivities, with traditional dishes carrying deep symbolic meanings. These culinary traditions bring families together and are believed to bring good fortune for the coming year. Traditional Dishes and Their Symbolism. Chinese New Year meals
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