A Beijinger's Guide to CNY, Day Two
The second day of Lunar New Year has arrived! What are some things people do today?
1. Worship the God of Money
One of
the most important traditions of the second day of Lunar New Year is to
worship the god of money. People visit temples (more common during a
non-pandemic year) to pray for good fortune for the entire year. They
also offer sacrifices like fish and lamb to show respect.
On this
day, many places have sacrificial ceremonies. One place many Beijingers
go to is , which is close to Fragrant Hills and the Western
Hills on the west side of the city. You can also head to Huairou
District and visit , which is about 34 miles northeast of
downtown Beijing, to pray for good luck.
Are you ready to burn some incense at Badachu?
2. Eat wontons
As if dumplings
weren't enough, the second day of Chinese New Year is reserved entirely
for another pouch of meaty goodness: wontons! Lao Beijingers wake up
before the sun rises to make these treats, but if you want to forgo
making them and get straight to the luck, head over to any location and chomp down on some delicious shrimp wontons.
If,
on the other hand, you're looking for something vegetarian, say,
mushrooms mixed with water chestnut, I'd recommend trying , another great restaurant with multiple locations
across the city.
I can never get enough of the shrimp wontons at Nanchengxiang!
3. Family reunion dinners
You've
probably already had your reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve with
your family or friends. So why bother with another dinner, right? Well,
in Chinese culture, the dinner on the second day of the new year
celebration matters a lot because it can affect your luck for the entire
year. Make sure to treat yourself to some juicy chicken or braised pork
in brown sauce.
Many places in town will be perfect for reunion
dinners, and what’s better than celebrating Chinese New Year with
authentic Beijing flavors? You can head to for
their crispy Peking duck, or hop on over to
for their roast meat. You won't regret it!
So much yum in this Peking duck at Zongbu Hutong!
READ MORE
CNY, Day One: Get New Clothes, Eat Dumplings, Send Hongbaos
Images: Dianping, unsplash
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