Indonesia has been the home of overseas Chinese (华裔) since many centuries ago but it was only recently in 2001 that the Chinese Lunar New Year (春节) was acknowledged by the government. Since then, the annual festival has been celebrated openly and freely nationwide by the Chinese community. Every year during Chinese New Year celebrations (known locally as Imlek, which falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month), the nuance of the Orient is felt most in Indonesia’s bigger cities like Jakarta, where a high number of ‘Chinese Indonesians’ live. This year, Imlek happens on 8th February 2016, so if you happen to be in Jakarta during this festive season, you can enjoy the ambience of the Chinese New Year’s celebrations and welcome 'the year of monkey’. Of course, you can stay at the best hotels and other staycation spots during this season too. Here are the top things to do in Jakarta during the Chinese New Year!
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1. Release a bird at Vihara Dharma Bakti
A Chinese temple is an exciting place to be during the festive season, as it’s packed with worshippers doing their rituals. Keep a lookout for one of the popular rituals known by the locals as ciamsi (求签), where one seek answers or check their fortunes. You’d notice devotees shaking a wood cylinder containing some bamboo sticks - each labeled with a number - till one of the sticks fall onto the floor. The stick can then be exchanged for a piece of paper containing words (in Chinese and Indonesian) of wisdom that address your current situation. If you go to a temple named ‘Vihara Dharma Bakti’ (金德院) in Glodok area, you might see people releasing sparrows to gain merit. Known as 'fang shen’ (放生), you can also buy the live sparrows from one of the hawkers for 20,000 IDR (1.40 USD for 10 sparrows) to release them. It’s believed that you’d have better luck in life as you have helped save some lives by freeing these little creatures. This is one of the fun activities in Jakarta during this season.
2. Go to Glodok to buy Chinese ornaments
Spending Chinese New Year in Jakarta? During normal days, Glodok, Jakarta’s Chinatown (West Jakarta), is the place for Jakartans to go and buy electronics at relatively cheaper prices. Nevertheless, prior to the festive Imlek, this area always becomes busier as the Chinese would come here to buy Chinese New Year ornaments like red lanterns and pink sakura tree (imitation) to decorate their houses and shops. Festive decorations and products are readily available and as you walk along the streets, take in the festive ambience and cheerful music. Don’t miss the wide variety of red packets commonly known as hong bao. These red-coloured envelopes would be filled with money to be given to the younger generation as a form of auspiciousness. You can bring home some ornaments as souvenirs.
3. Go to a mall to watch free lion dance performances
During this festive season, all malls in Jakarta would be decked in auspicious red and gold, with Chinese decorations such as dragons, red lanterns, etc. and interestingly in many malls, these decorations start as early as a month before the actual day. On selected days before or during the Chinese New Year, you will be entertained by lion dancers doing acrobatic performances (舞龙舞狮) in the mall’s atrium. Accompanied with drums and auspicious props, the dance troupe puts up an interesting performance. It is believed that shops that has been graced with these lion dancers would enjoy prosperity and good fortune in the year. Bigger malls like Grand Indonesia, Ciputra, Bay Walk, Kelapa Gading and Pondok Indah are known to have grand lion dance performances.
4. Eat and get your lucky 'hong bao'
It’s Chinese New Year Eve, so eat Chinese food! All top notch Chinese restaurants in Jakarta have Chinese New Year’s dinner specials where your dinner will be accompanied with Chinese performances. You will get to see the performers singing Chinese songs, dancing and playing Chinese traditional musical instruments such as guzheng (Chinese plucked zither) and erhu (a spiked fiddle).
A useful tip: Go to Graffiti restaurant, a Chinese restaurant inside Mercure Hotel in South Jakarta. With 14 USD, not only will you get the dinner buffet (they have good steamed grouper and roasted duck) and watch Chinese performances, but you will also get a red packet containing a door prize, and if you are lucky, you might get a hotel voucher in Bali!
Book Your Stay: Mercure Jakarta Simatupang
Jakarta Tour Guide
Emir Yamin
When it comes to travel, the journey isn't just about reaching a destination; it's about the experiences you gather along the way. While big group tours might be the conventional choice, opting for a local guide can elevate your travel adventure to new heights. That's why I've decided to become a tour guide.During my tenure as the Chief of Media Relations, I had the opportunity to travel extens... Read more
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Jakarta Tour Guide
Toni Kenpachi
Hello my name is Toni and I live in Jakarta- Indonesia, I've been working as a Tour Guide since 2008, I have licensed from Jakarta City Government Tourism Office, I choose to be a Tourist guide due to my background education because I graduated from Tourism Academy, I'll be glad to assist your trip in Indonesia especially in Jakarta and surrounding areas also if you would like to do overland t... Read more
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Jakarta Tour Guide
Dori Januhari
I am a legal and licensed tourist guide from Indonesia. I have been guiding for 20 years. I live in Jakarta, Indonesia, but I have traveled to many places in the country. My guiding areas are Java, Bali, and Lombok Island. I obtained my license from the Indonesia Tourism Ministry. On days when there is no tour, I work as an English and German private teacher, teaching mathematics and science ph... Read more
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Jakarta Tour Guide
5. Watch midnight fireworks
In Jakarta, the midnight firework parties are held every year on Chinese New Year’s eve in many Chinese temples like Vihara Dharma Bakti, as well as two of Jakarta’s biggest malls, Central Park in West Jakarta and Bay Walk in North Jakarta. It’s better if you can stay in a hotel close to the Chinese temple or mall so that you can simply go to the location on foot, as the traffic is very congested during this time.
6. Dine at Li Feng in Mandarin Oriental
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
“Food is not just eating energy, it is an experience” -Guy Fieri Don't miss an array of new menu at Li Feng which serves...
Posted by Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta on Monday, February 24, 2020
What better way to celebrate the Chinese New Year than by indulging in some of their best-tasting delicacies? Should you find yourself celebrating this festivity in Jakarta, one of the best places to get a taste of delicious Chinese food is at Li Feng, which is located in Mandarin Oriental Hotel. This upscale restaurant features a luxurious dining set-up and serves traditional Cantonese dishes. Li Feng has partnered with Chef Fei, the mastermind behind the Michelin-starred Jiang restaurant at Guangzhou’s Mandarin Oriental. Menu highlights include deep-friend swan dumplings and sweet and sour chicken. Be sure to make a reservation to secure your table!
Li Feng in Mandarin Oriental
Address: Jl. M.H. Thamrin, RT.1/RW.5, Menteng, Kec. Menteng, Jakarta, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10310, Indonesia
Website: Li Feng in Mandarin Oriental
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 4pm - 7pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 3pm, 4pm - 7pm
Visit Jakarta during the Chinese New Year
It’s amazing to think that just more than a decade ago all kinds of Chinese celebrations were completely banned, but now it has become one of the largest public celebrations in the country. Celebrate this coming year of monkey in Jakarta (or other Indonesia’s big cities) and experience all the fun!
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