Budapest’s Chinatown Set to Host Vibrant Chinese New Year Festival

The Chinese community in Budapest is preparing to welcome the Year of the Snake with a two-day festival on January 18-19, 2025. This event, taking place at the Monori Center, promises a rich array of cultural experiences and marks several significant milestones.

Festival Highlights

The 2025 Chinese New Year Festival introduces several new elements:

• First celebration since the Chinese New Year was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list
• Two cultural delegations from China bringing entertainment and craft programs
• 35 new hanfu costumes available for visitors to try on for free
• Seven cultural programs making their debut in Hungary

Program Overview

Stage Performances

January 18:

• 10:00 – 11:45: Lion dance, dragon dance, and performances by the Jilin delegation
• 13:00 – 14:00: Jiaozi (Chinese dumpling) making demonstration
• 14:30 – 16:00: Performances including Peking opera, folk dance, circus acts, and Monkey King kung-fu

January 19:

• 10:00 – 12:00: Various performances including Henan Yu opera and traditional dances
• 13:00 – 14:00: Jiaozi making demonstration
• 14:00 – 16:00: Craft workshops by the Kaifeng delegation

Indoor Activities (Both Days)

• Tea tasting and Chinese medicine demonstrations
• Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) cosplay
• Chinese calligraphy, painting, and butterfly painting

Cultural Tents and Outdoor Play Area

• Craft workshops
• Traditional Chinese games
• Dragon dance try-outs
• Wishing tree

Food Stalls

• Festival foods and street food available from 11:00 to 16:00

Practical Information

• Admission to the festival is free
• Minimal fees apply for tea tasting and DIY activities to cover material costs
• Card payments accepted at food stalls
• Free parking available, accessible from Kőbányai út 53
• Easily reachable by public transport (trams 3, 28, 62; buses 9, 95, 195; trolleybus 75) or bicycle

The festival offers a unique opportunity to experience Chinese culture, including performances never before seen in Hungary, such as Yu opera and traditional crafts like sugar blowing and New Year woodblock poster making. With its diverse program and authentic experiences, the Chinese New Year Festival promises to be an engaging cultural event for all ages.

Image source: Chinatown Budapest