The best TEFL cities to enjoy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is a mega, mega celebration. Naturally, anything that 1.4bn of China’s residents celebrate is going to be incredibly colourful, with fireworks, elaborate dancing dragons, street parties, lanterns and all the other brilliant traditions. Whether you’re in the streets of Beijing or on one of the many borders, you’ll feel the reverberations of exploding fireworks and lively music.

While you might think Chinese New Year is only celebrated within China, you’d be wrong. You might also think, like New Year’s Eve in other countries, that it only lasts one night. Who’s been keeping you informed about these things? You need to have a word.

Don’t worry though, because we’re here to tell you that while, yes, China is the hub of Lunar New Year celebrations, it’s a mistake to assume that it’s not celebrated in other countries, which also happen to be amazing destinations to teach English abroad . What’s more, you don’t have to rush out for one evening of amazing New Year fun, because the celebrations last for 15 whole days and nights.

So, where are some of the most enticing, exuberant and electrifying end-of-year celebrations? Here are some of our picks.

Beijing, China

Where better to start than the capital of China? Boasting over three millennia of history, a scarcely believable population of 21.5 million people and some of the most prominent New Year traditions of anywhere, Beijing had to be the first port of call here.

The best bit of spending Chinese New Year in Beijing? Probably Temple Fairs . These fairs are scattered across the city and involve local crafts, some kind of art display, folk performances, locally made food and other sources of entertainment. These fairs are a huge deal; they used to (and sometimes still do) represent great opportunities for local religious groups to advertise their temples - hence, the name. 

Beyond the fairs, you’ll find Beijing celebrates New Year in a big, big way. Head to the Beijing National Stadium (also known as “The Birds’ Nest”) for spectacular shows if you don’t believe us!

A typical TEFL monthly salary in China is £1,000-£2,000/$1,300–$2,575, and you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, 120-hour TEFL certificate (or two years of experience), to be under the age of 55 and a clean criminal background check to attain a Z Visa. Here’s all the information you’ll need about teaching English in China .

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

Taking it out of China and to another country that observes the Lunar New Year, Malaysia probably doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Its capital, Kuala Lumpur, is both stunningly modern and full of history and tradition, making it a perfect site for both a TEFL adventure and a life-changing getaway.

So, how do Malaysians celebrate the Lunar New Year? Well, like in most of the world, it’s a time to get together with friends and family. Open houses are the norm, and you’re encouraged to invite neighbours over to celebrate with you. In terms of entertainment, the Chinese tradition of ang pow (giving out red envelopes with small amounts of money as a present) and displays of lion and dragon dancing fill the streets.

If you’re into a more traditional Lunar New Year, Penang Island and Kek Lok Si Temple are worth visiting, as the temples and streets are lit up in gorgeous colours. As a TEFL destination, Malaysia is incredible but has high standards for teachers to meet. To get a working visa, you’ll need a degree, an 120-hour TEFL certificate and some teaching experience, but if you get in, there’s no shortage of well-paying jobs.

Seoul, South Korea

Again, the Lunar Year is celebrated widely across Asia. So, if you already had designs on heading out to South Korea to live and teach English , then you’ll be delighted to know that the capital, Seoul, makes a very big deal out of the New Year.

Much like in Malaysia and China, Seollal - what Koreans call the New Year - is a family-orientated event. Families gather at the eldest male’s home for Charye , a traditional ritual which pays respects to ancestors, with various foods and decorations prepared as a means of celebrating a family’s past.

In the streets, expect music and dance, incredible red decorations (as is tradition for Lunar New Year) and the sounds of children playing card games like GoStop and Yut Nori. And, much like other countries celebrating the Lunar New Year, there’s an expectation that you’ll enjoy the festivities and share food with your neighbours.

As a TEFL destination, South Korea is immensely popular. The EPIK programme is a fantastic route for teachers to find jobs, which are amongst the highest paid in Asia and often come with fantastic benefits, including health insurance and accommodation. 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

At the start of the Lunar New Year, Vietnam celebrates Tết Nguyên Đán - ‘Tet’ for short - and in some style.

In Ho Chi Minh City, an ever-popular landing spot for TEFL teachers, and across Vietnam, households prepare for Tet with intense cleaning, food preparation and the purchase of traditional decorations. Then, when Tet kicks off, the streets are adorned with flowers (Nguyen Hue Street is particularly stunning), and there are firework displays, parades and lion dancing exhibitions.

If you’re looking for a catered, organised Tet celebration, it’s worth exploring what hotels and theme parks can offer you. Typically, they’ll have their busiest periods during the Lunar New Year celebrations, and put on quite a show: the best hotels, for example, will have stand-up comedians, puppetry, fireworks, ornate dragon dance displays and much more.

If you want to teach English in Vietnam - who could blame you - you’ll need a bachelor's degree in any field, be age 21 or over and hold a high-quality TEFL certification. You’ll need an English proficiency certificate like an IELTS if you’re a non-native English speaker, and of course, you’ll need a clean criminal record.

Harbin, China

When Led Zeppelin opened the iconic Immigrant Song with the lyrics “We come from the land of the ice and snow, from the midnight sun where the hot springs flow”, they were talking about Iceland. That’s a shame because it would’ve been a very useful segue if they were talking about Harbin’s International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival , which takes place during the Lunar New Year.

If you’re into raucous music and, well, ice and snow, however, let the city of Harbin introduce itself to your TEFL itinerary. Running since 1963, the festival is listed as one of the top 4 Ice and Snow Festivals (apparently a more crowded field than you’d think). While it doesn’t necessarily open for the Lunar New Year, it is an amazing place to be when the festivities are happening.

If you’re into fireworks, parties, live music, skating and breathtaking ice sculpture, then you’ll be astonished by what’s on offer. Photos of the festival scarcely seem real, such is the colour, the variety of the visual attractions, and the crowds.

Wherever you go, make it special

There’s no doubt that Asia is an incredibly popular continent for English teaching, and China is the absolute epicentre of global English teaching. There are opportunities from coast to coast, with each region boasting distinct and admirable cultures, traditions and histories. Wherever you go in China, though, New Year is a massive deal - but it doesn’t end at China’s borders.

Whether it’s the impact of the movement of Chinese people around Asia, or shared cultures across Asian countries, the Lunar New Year has always been and will always be an absolute bedrock of the social calendar. So, like we said right at the beginning, calling it ‘Chinese New Year’ at all is more than a little misleading.

With a TEFL certificate , there’s so much of Asia you can visit. If you’d rather be decorating streets with candles and cards than singing Auld Lang Syne, Lunar New Year is the experience you sorely need.

Want to start an adventure around Asia and you’re wondering which TEFL course is right for you? Take our TEFL Course Quiz today!