"Spring Festival - Happy New Year!" Festivals Tip by mafi_moya

Being in Beijing over Spring Festival - known as Chinese New Year in other countries - is a fantastic but very strange experience. Everything is shut, millions of people leave the city to return to their home towns and villages, and travelling outside the city is an absolute nightmare as public transport collapses under the sheer weight of numbers. But it's also fascinating - the city is covered in red and yellow flags and lanterns, lively 'temple fairs' spring up, and if you know some locals then it's a great time for parties and get-togethers.

I wouldn't have missed it for the world and you can read all about it by going to my Spring Festival travelogue