Staying in Shanghai this Spring Festival? Given the millions of people trying to leave, we don't blame you for staying put. Here's our guide to the best things to do this Chinese New Year in Shanghai.
1. Ring the bell at Longhua temple
Despite considerable disruption from ongoing construction works in the area, the Longhua Temple is reported to be going ahead with its traditional bell ringing service to welcome in the New Year. The temple will be open from 9pm-2am on Sunday Feb 7, and from 5am-4.30pm on New Year's Day itself (Monday 8). From 9-21 February, the temple will be open from 7am-4.30pm.
According to Longhua temple monk Yan Yin: ‘There are only 108 slots that can be filled at Chinese New Year, from midnight until midday. Tickets are several thousand kuai for the earliest time slots, then gradually go down in price. After midday, it’s no longer considered auspicious to ring the bell so the early spots are more coveted. People will line up very early to try to get a place - it’s considered very good luck to ring the bell.’ You can find full venue details for the Longhua temple on our website.
2. Take in the decorations at Yuyuan bazaar
Cancelled last year following concerns over crowd control due to the (Western) New Year’s Eve disaster on The Bund, Yuyuan’s lantern festival is back for 2016. The area has been done up with an array of colourful lanterns and lights to celebrate Spring Festival, and they’re due to be on display until Thursday 25 February, just after Lantern Festival. Sun Wukong (The Monkey King) features prominently this year.
3. Eat niangao at Xiandelai
Niangao, or glutinous rice cake, is a must-eat dish during Spring Festival. Places all over town will serve it up for you (the authentic Shanghainese take on it actually uses non-glutinous rice), but for a real taste of tradition, head to old Shanghai eatery Xiandelai for their version served with paigu(pork ribs).
Xiandelai is at 36 Yunnan Nan Lu, near Ninghai Dong Lu, Huangpu district.
4. Drink hot chocolate
Since Chinese New Year coincides with Shanghai being at its coldest, there’s no better time to warm yourself from the inside out with these mugs full of happiness. We’ve rounded up our five favourite hot chocolates in the city, from Angelina’s thick indulgent cup, to the marshmallow-dipping fun at Kommune - you can find the list on our food page.
5. Escape MAO's haunted house
This SpringFestival, MAO's live house is bringing you a large original American horror cinema escape game. You’ll be seeing a mixture of ghosts, murderers,blood thirsty zombies, stunning geishas, and even the bride of Chucky. This is not only a horror trip but a risky escape - you'll need to 'crack the mystery in the souls of devils' and find the 'death password' if you plan to leave in one piece.
It's all set at midnight in a remote town cinema in Arizona where different staff and spectators mysteriously disappear. Featuring body parts, traps, and secret passages, organisers promise 'it will feel as if you are truly on the verge of death'. If that sounds like your idea of a romantic evening, there will also be a special game for Valentine’s Day involving a search for 'the blood rose’.
MAO's Horror House is on from Thursday 11 until Sunday 28 February.
6. Join a Spring Festival rave at Dada
While Chinese New Year is a more family-orientated affair than its western counterpart, there are still some places for you to party when midnight comes around. DJs Howell & Alta are celebrating the Spring Festival at Dada - Expect Grime, Gqom, Hip Hop, RnB and Champagne showers at the crack of midnight.
And the day before, Dada is also hosting Drum Clap, billed as a 'genre unspecific experience in a dark room'. It's the latest nightlife series from Discosmic Adventure founder Nik HilP, with the inaugural theme being 'black acid disco'. The night will feature 'a lot of between genre music' along with 'some African things, some Bosphorus disco' and more. See details for both on our website (or by clicking read more below).
7. Catch one of this year's CNY blockbusters
Hollywood studios release their biggest films in summer; in China, the blockbusters are released for Chinese New Year. With millions of people first happily reunited with their families, and soon after finding refuge in cinemas to avoid them, Chinese New Year is the perfect time to roll out movies with popular directors, famous stars and top special effects.
The Monkey King, a life-saving mermaid and a star-studded gambling spree in Macau feature in this year's offerings. Check out our guide to the biggest Chinese blockbusters hitting screens on our website.
8. Treat yourself to a Shanghai staycation
Holidays in the city don't have to be glum when Time Out has handpicked the city's best staycation spots for you. Some of Shanghai's best hotels are offering special packages and impressive discounts this Spring Festival too - keep an eye on our website as we update it with the best deals.
9. Watch the Super Bowl over breakfast
The beauty of watching the NFL finale here in China is you can watch the Super Bowl over your ordinary bowl of cornflakes. Or, if you're up for getting out of bed and heading somewhere with an early-morning party atmosphere, check out our list of places showing the Super Bowl online. The game kicks off at 7.30am Shanghai time on Monday 8 February.
10. Enjoy a CNY dinner
Why not indulge in a banquet of delicious traditional dishes designed to bring you luck and fortune, or at the very least a tasty meal? Check out our roundup of CNY dining events for all the best options online.
And if you're not feeling leaving the house, online delivery site TableLife are offering three CNY ‘Survival Kits’, which they'll bring right to your door. The first - the Couch Potato Kit - is priced at 437RMB and includes a case of Stella Artois, plus snacks a plenty, from Kettle chips to microwave popcorn.
11. Take a bike ride to Disneyland
If you're up for some outdoor exercise this holiday, why not join the folks at Factory Five for a group bike ride all the way to Disneyland. The ride starts at 10am on Sunday 7 February at Factory Five's shop on Changhua Lu and promises big, fast roads to the still under-construction park in Pudong. Whilst there's no guarantee you'll be able to gain entry to the site itself (although they claim some cyclists have), it might be worth a go if you're up for the 90km round trip.
You can find more details on their website.