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Welcome to
in Asia! Watch the
New Year of arrive across Asia
with live fireworks displays, plus
details of all the biggest event and
best parties, plus links and
recommendations of the best hotels
and places to stay while yuo join in
the countdown to the ball drop
across the major Asian cities.
In
China, although the celebrations of
the Lunar New Year are not until a
few weeks after the Gregorian New
Year, celebrations of the Gregorian
New Year are held in some areas,
particularly in Beijing, Shanghai,
Guangzhou and Xiamen. Celebrations
with fireworks and rock concerts
have taken place in Beijing's Solana
Blue Harbor Shopping Park, while
cultural shows and other events are
held in the city's Temple of Heaven.
In
Hong Kong, people usually gather in
Central, Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha
Tsui, to celebrate and to look at
the night lights along the harbor.
The Times Square shopping mall also
holds their own celebration of the
ball drop held at Times Square in
New York City. District-wide
celebrations also occur in Tsuen
Wan, Sha Tin, Mong Kok, and Kwun
Tong. Beginning in 2008, a 60-second
numerical countdown to New Year's,
consisting of LED lights and
pyrotechnic display effects, on the
facade of Two International Finance
Centre was launched, followed by a
firework display and an exhibition
of the Symphony of Lights.
In
India, most celebrations take place
in the major metropolitan cities
like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore,
Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata,
Ahmedabad, Guwahati and since
2009-10, in Chandigarh. In
Hyderabad, fireworks, street racings
and brawls are very common. Goa is
one of the most visited spot during
new year celebration both by Indian
and foreign tourists. Events such as
live concerts and dances by
Bollywood stars are organised and
attended mostly by youngsters. Large
crowds also gather at popular spots
along the coastline such as the
Gateway of India, Girgaum Chowpatty,
Bandra Bandstand, Juhu Beach.
In
the Philippines, New Year's Eve (Bisperas
ng Bagong Taon) is a non-working
holiday. Filipinos usually celebrate
New Year's Eve in the company of
family and close friends.
Traditionally, most households host
or attend a Media Noche (dinner
party). Typical dishes include
pancit and hamon. Lechon (roasted
pig), is usually prepared and set as
the centerpiece of the dinner table.
Barbecued food is also an integral
part of the menu.
Aside from the traditional Thai New
Year called Songkran (which falls on
April 13 or April 14), people in
Thailand also celebrate the arrival
of the Gregorian New Year on January
1 with their families, relatives,
and friends. They usually celebrate
it by a family dinner and following
different customs. In most cities
and urban areas across the country,
celebrations of the New Year is
accompanied by countdowns,
fireworks, and concerts, notably,
the CentralWorld Square at
CentralWorld in downtown Bangkok,
and the Pattaya Beach in Pattaya,
while public places such as hotels,
pubs, restaurants and nightclubs,
also host New Year's Eve parties by
offering food, entertainment and
music to the people, and they
usually stay open until the early
next morning. |
