Chinese New Year in Beijing

New year is coming! Having spent the last five years in Kuala Lumpur give me an opportunity to experience the ambiance of celebrating new year in Malaysia where around thirty percent of its dweller is Chinese. But the curiosity about how Chinese new year is celebrated at its own country is still echo in my mind, that's the reason why I decided to visit Beijing in this year of Ram.

When the airplane almost landed, snow overlay which already turn into ice show at some areas. Captain announced that the land temperature was 0 degrees at that time, that actually frighten me as I never experienced a cold temperature at that level. Although of course I already prepared with a warm long john and double coat.

At the airport exit, my friend already waiting, she came from Hangzhou, another city in China which takes 5 hours travel by super fast train. Our hotel bus already outside so we the proceed to the hotel.

The hotel is a three stars hotel, located only 20 minutes from the airport. I forgot the hotel name, Super 8 if I'm not mistaken, the hotel is clean but have a very bad sound proof. In China, when we do checking in a hotel, everyone who will stay in the hotel must show their ID card to be copy. This is different with other countries that I know such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand where ID requested is only for the one who do check in process.

Next morning we move to another hotel which located at city center. We take a bus, the situation nearby hotel is really quiet as many Beijing dweller is going back to their home town. In the bus, the ticket officer ask for an additional charge as we bring one luggage each person. After taking a bus, I continue with subway as the next hotel is really close to a subway station.

To tell you the truth, there is nothing special about new year in Beijing, except a nonstop firecrackers and fireworks at the fifth or fourth night after new year if I'm not mistaken