Chinese New Year 2015

The mythical and inspiring Spring Festival, known as
Chinese New Year is approaching. A time to honour
deities and our ancestors by commemorating this
season with feasts, lanterns, parades, races, arts and
dances.

Till the 1st of March, Sydney’s streets will bloom
with amazing sights and delights, smells and spells of
the cultural celebration. The festival is anticipating
more that 600.000 people and over 80 family friendly
events that everyone will enjoy. Here is City Hub’s
seven lucky and alternative ways in which you can
celebrate the festive Year of the Sheep:

Lanterns of the Terracotta Warrior Exhibition
– unitl 22 February
90 guards, standing 2.1 metres high will be
illuminated by lanterns in the City of Sydney.
Constructed from fabric and wire by Chinese artist
Xia Nan, these huge scale Chinese lanterns are a
vision to be seen. The pieces are faithful replicas of
the original 8,000 warriors and horses, however artist
Xia Nan has added women and children to the
display In honour of inheritance and the future.
Feb 13-22, dusk, Hickson Road Reserve, Dawes Point,
free, 02 9265 9333

Lunar Feasts –until 1 March
Australia’s top-quality Asian restaurants will be
serving up scrumptious banquets, tasting platters and
set menu meals for their excited guests. “Lunar
Feasts offers Sydneysiders a wonderful array of
Asian cuisine to enjoy with family and friends.
Celebrate the New Year with some of the best Asian
food in town at the best prices,” says Lord Mayor
Clover Moore.

Here is our top 3 restaurant pick:
1. Spice Temple, $95pp, Lunch 12pm-3pm
(Mon-Fri) Dinner 6pm-10pm (Mon-Wed)
6pm-10:30pm (Thurs-Sat), 10 Bligh Street,
Sydney, 02 8078 1888
2. Chinese Noodle House, $20pp, 10am–9.30pm,
TG2, Price Centre, 8 Quay Street, Haymarket,
02 9281 4508
3. Umi Sushi + Udon, $50pp (minimum two
people), 11.30am–10pm (Sun-Thurs) 11.30am-
10.30pm (Fri-Sat), 02 9283 2006

Dragon Boat Races – 28 February–1 March
Darling Harbour will be the backdrop to the
biggest dragon boat race regatta in the Southern
Hemisphere on Saturday the 28th of February and
Sunday the 1st of March. The 12-meter long boats
are adorned to honour the dragon, with scales
painted on the hull, and paddles to symbolise the
claws. Each dragon has 22 rowers, and a drummer
to set a rhythm to the movement.
“Combined with two days of live entertainment,
music and kids’ activities onshore, it’s the perfect
way to finish off Sydney’s Chinese New Year
celebrations,” Says Gill Minervini.
Feb 28-Mar 1, 9am-4pm, Cockle Bay Darling
Harbour, free 02 9265 9333

The Revival
Combining the love of architecture and urban
design, this exhibition explores the boundaries, and
idea exchanges between Chinese and Australian
architects. This unique event is for those with an
eye for construction and design, as well as anyone
interested in expanding their knowledge of these
cultures, and how they stand tall.
Feb 24, free, Museum of Contemporary Art,
140 George Street, Circular Quay, iapa.net.au

Chinese Gardens Penjing Competition
Penjing, also known as Penzai, is the ancient
Chinese art of creating artistically formed trees,
landscapes and more in miniature form. In
collaboration with Bonsai Environment there
will be a small, intriguing competition
celebrating this adorable art at the Chinese
Garden of Friendship.
Feb 13-28, $6pp, Chinese Garden of Friendship
(Pier Street. Southern end of Darling Harbour,
(02) 9240 8888

Mahjong Playlunch
Mahjong, is a Chinese game commonly played
by four players. It requires skill, strategy, and
calculation with a touch of chance. Learn how
to play Mahjong at the play-lunch while you’re
served delicious dim sim to keep your mind
going. Bookings are available for groups of 4, 8
and 12. An instruction manual will also be
provided for those who have never had the
pleasure of playing. Learn something new this
Chinese New Year, while satisfying your craving
for dim sim, and then some.
Feb 21, 28, Mar 7, $38pp, Mahjong Room,
312 Crown Street, Sydney, 02 9361 3985

Tea Leaf Reading by the Sea
If you’re a little superstitious or merely
interested in what your future holds, there’s a
traditional Chinese tea reading that may have all
the answers you’re after. Experience the wonder
of having pictures emerge to reveal your hidden
past, and not so hidden future using your tea
leaves as inspiration. Find out what the year of
the Sheep has in store for you.
Feb 21, $6pp, Chinese Garden of Friendship
(Pier Street. Southern end of Darling Harbour),
(02) 9240 8888

By Rocio Belinda Mendez