As the 2026 Chinese New Year (February 17, 2026) draws near, a lot of Chinese cities have already immersed themselves in the festive cheer and started celebrating this most cherished traditional event ahead of time. According to Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse, and horse-themed decorations have thus sprung up across the iconic scenic spots and streets nationwide. Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Harbin stand out in particular for their exuberant holiday atmospheres.

Year of the Horse

  Chinese New Year spirit is most vividly on display at the Xi'an City Wall Lantern Festival. Stretching across the entire Xi'an City Wall, the lantern show runs from January 1 to March 22, 2026, for a total of 81 days. The six main city gates, including Hanguang Gate, Yongning Gate and Wumu Gate, serve as the core viewing areas, home to the most stunning lantern installations and festive activities. Centered on the horse motif, the lanterns feature more than 50 national treasure-level horse relics from China, such as the Tri-color Glazed Horse and the Bronze Galloping Horse, all recreated in lantern form for visitors to admire. What’s more, traditional Chinese performances take place on the City Wall throughout the festival, and performers in Hanfu, traditional Chinese clothing, and golden armor can be seen interacting with tourists, making people feel like traveling back to the ancient times.
 

Xi'an City Wall Lantern Festival

Beautiful lanterns on the Xi'an city wall

Tang Paradise is another key venue for the Chinese New Year festivities, and the lantern show will be held from January 1 to April 6, 2026. In addition to horse-themed elements, its lanterns integrate time-honored intangible cultural heritage crafts of China, such as Suzhou embroidery and bamboo weaving, as well as lines from over 300 classic Tang poems. The whole venue exudes the timeless charm of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) right here in Xi'an.
  Chinese New Year festivities in Shanghai are set for a spectacular upgrade this year. For the first time, the city’s lantern show expands beyond the area of Yu Garden to cover the Huangpu River and the Bund. On January 26, 2026, the lanterns at Yu Garden will light up first, with the horse as its central theme and a stunning array of whimsical lantern designs on display. The highlight is the giant trotting horse lantern at Golden Square. Tourists can wander among the lanterns, browse the holiday markets and savor authentic Shanghai delicacies here. 

On February 1, 2026, the festive lantern displays along the Huangpu River and the Bund will be switched on as well. This year’s lantern show is co-hosted with POP MART, whose beloved iconic characters will be brought to life in lantern form on the Bund. Meanwhile, cosplayers of these popular IP characters will interact with tourists on the Bund in person.
 

Yu Garden, Shanghai

Sugar-coated haws

  The festive cheer of the Chinese New Year has woven itself into the daily life of Beijing’s residents. From the Great Wall to the hutongs and traditional markets, the joy of the festival is in the air everywhere. The trees lining the Mutianyu Great Wall are draped in red and strung with red lanterns, turning a walk along the wall into a stroll down a red carpet. At the square at the foot of Mutianyu Great Wall, a continuous lineup of brilliant traditional Chinese performances is staged for visitors. Horse-themed decorations can be found all around Beijing Hutongs, popping up in every nook and cranny to surprise tourists at every turn. The Old Beijing New Year Market is also a must-visit. As a living folk museum of sorts, it brings together specialty goods from Beijing and across the country, letting visitors sample the unique flavors of China’s diverse regions without ever leaving Beijing.
 

Folk activities in Beijing Hutong

Red lanterns symbolizing good luck

  Harbin crafts a one-of-a-kind Chinese New Year atmosphere unlike any other city, drawing on its greatest allure: ice and snow. The scenic spots, streets and squares in Harbin are filled with exquisite ice sculptures of horses, which come in various sizes and shapes, galloping, lying still or flying, transforming Harbin into a magical ice kingdom of horses. The ice horse sculptures at Harbin Ice and Snow World and the horse-shaped ice lanterns at Zhaolin Park are the biggest crowd-pullers. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes rapid success and prosperity, and tourists stop to take photos with these ice sculptures, hoping to seize the auspicious omen and pray for a fortunate and smooth new year. 
 

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