{"id":1229,"date":"2023-10-24T03:59:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T19:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/2023\/10\/24\/where-to-go-to-avoid-crowds-this-chinese-new-year\/"},"modified":"2024-07-03T23:22:33","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T15:22:33","slug":"where-to-go-to-avoid-crowds-this-chinese-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/where-to-go-to-avoid-crowds-this-chinese-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Where to Go to Avoid Crowds this Chinese New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

The last thing you want over the Chinese New Year is a getaway destination so crowded, you\u2019d be tempted to return to where you\u2019re trying to get away from.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The last thing you want over the Chinese New Year<\/a> is a getaway destination so crowded, you\u2019d be tempted to\u00a0return to where you\u2019re trying to get away from.\u00a0If you aren\u2019t the early-planner type and are\u00a0still\u00a0considering your options, count yourself in luck: this guide was written with you in mind. This Year of the Rooster, we wish to spare you of the tourist throngs, and enjoy a new year\u2019s welcome free of the crowds. Here are five destinations\u00a0to visit if such is your idea of a good holiday weekend.<\/p>\n

Understanding the Chinese New Year<\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Okinawa<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"okinawa.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo credit: www.mafengwo.cn<\/p>\n

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The Japanese island in the South is colder during this time of the year, but fret not:\u00a0Okinawa\u00a0is pristine with wildlife and nature, as well as a host of land-based activities that guarantee tons to do even as water sports take a backseat.<\/p>\n

How about a family-friendly boat trip to see the whales (now\u2019s just the right season for it), or a\u00a0kayaking trip\u00a0down a mangrove river? Home to the Ryukyus, Okinawa is colored with culture, too. Don\u2019t miss a stop at the Shuri Castle in Naha, once the abode of the Ryukyuan King and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also drop by the Nakijin Castle Remains, where Higan cherries are said to appear in full bloom throughout mid-January and early February.<\/p>\n

2. Siem Reap<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"okinawa.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo credit: www.mafengwo.cn<\/p>\n

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Wealthy with historical monuments, it is arguable that the Cambodian capital is a landmark of history itself. In the nearby Angkor, the old city is punctuated with its spectacular temple complex, a mighty remnant of Khmer reign.<\/p>\n

What better way to welcome the New Year than by\u00a0watching the sunrise\u00a0at Angkor Wat, a sight as majestic as the photographs tell it? Or\u00a0experience a water blessing\u00a0in the tradition of the ancients, a ritual conducted by chanting monks at a countryside pagoda? Younger travel<\/a>ers with a bucket list may consider\u00a0a day in the Cambodian rice terraces, watching buffaloes at work and mingling with the locals of Treak Village.<\/p>\n

Slowly slipping out of its cloak as a backpacker\u2019s favorite,\u00a0Siem Reap\u00a0is growing into its own as a destination for travelers of all stripes looking to Southeast Asia. Moreover, it\u2019s the best time to visit before the April showers.<\/p>\n

3. Kathmandu<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Kathmandu.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo credit:travel.china<\/a>.com<\/p>\n

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An underrated destination that rewards the curious is\u00a0Kathmandu. Ever outshined by its own Everest peaks, the capital and largest municipality of Nepal has often had to nestle its blessings with summit chasers and adventure seekers alone, while its cultural and religious pillars of art stand stark, beautiful, and piercingly overlooked \u2013 by most of the season\u2019s travelers, anyway.<\/p>\n

When in Kathmandu, make it\u00a0a day around the Durbar Squares, once the gathering points and watering holes of Malla Kings. Then how about acquainting<\/a> yourself with Nepali cuisine in a\u00a0fun cooking class? There\u2019s no better time \u2013 and year! \u2013 to try something new.<\/p>\n

4. Pokhara<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pokhara.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo credit: \u00a0by\u00a0Rebecca Bredehoft<\/p>\n

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Where Kathmandu is known as the cultural bed of the Everest nation,\u00a0Pokhara\u00a0is often thought of as the adventurous sibling. And rightly so: from paragliding with Egyptian vultures to soaring down\u00a0the world\u2019s longest zipline, the second largest city in Nepal offers up its natural and topographical blessings to every visitor. With most travelers taking to the beach this Chinese New Year, we reckon it the best time for a Nepali getaway.<\/p>\n

Get a good look at the Annapurna Range in the glow of the rising sun \u2013\u00a0another sunrise option\u00a0to start off your Chinese New Year \u2013 on Sarangkot Hill. Then try the paragliding experience of a lifetime,\u00a0parahawking, where you get to soar the skies in the company of a rehabilitated Egyptian vulture.<\/p>\n

Tip: Why not make it a two-destination trip to Nepal, and\u00a0raft down from Kathmandu to Pokhara\u00a0for added fun and adrenaline?<\/p>\n

5. Mauritius<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Mauritius.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo credit: klook.com<\/p>\n

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Of course, tropical getaways this chilly Chinese New Year are inevitable. Should you be in search of an alternative to the crowds of Bali and Phuket this holiday weekend, may we point you in the direction of the Indian Ocean, toward the island of\u00a0Mauritius?<\/p>\n

We like to refer to the\u00a0island nation\u00a0as heaven on earth, and a quick Google scan will show you why. With silvery sands and waters so emerald you\u2019d fear it\u2019d break like glass with every splash, the captivating island is among the closest to paradise we\u2019ll glimpse in this lifetime. And while we\u2019re convinced of the beauty of Bali and Phuket, the distance of Mauritius certainly adds to it an extra charm.<\/p>\n

Spend a day\u00a0cruising to the immaculate island of\u00a0\u00cele aux Cerf, complete with a delicious barbecue lunch. Mauritius enjoys a tropical weather all-year round, so you can swim, snorkel and sun bathe to your heart\u2019s content. Allocate another day for a\u00a0sky diving\u00a0rush, and yet another for a\u00a0horseback ride\u00a0up Le Morne Mountain. The only trouble you might encounter in\u00a0Mauritius is the probability\u00a0you\u2019ll never want to leave, ever again.<\/p>\n

Source: www.klook.com<\/p>\n

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