Chinese Companies Hold Insanely Extravagant CNY Parties

By Isabella Farr

As people all over the world feel the dread and anguish of going back to work after the New Year, Chinese employees at major companies may be relishing in excitement as their New Year approaches. Over the next couple of weeks, companies across the country will be holding their annual Chinese New Year parties.

For larger companies like JD.com and Tencent, Chinese New Year parties and celebrations exceed the routine work Christmas party that laowai here may be familiar with. Instead, the parties come closer to a cross between Miss America and the Golden Globes. 

Usually held at various nightclubs in major Chinese cities, the parties are formally an opportunity for employees to hear speeches from company leaders. However, in addition to guest speakers, the parties also feature performances from singers and girls parading in embellished bikinis.

Parties are held in large and beautiful halls.

Boxes of cash are made available for invitees to take.

Girls in embellished bikinis stage performances for attendees.

Performances, complete with costumes and dancers, are part of the celebrations.

Company leaders pose for photos and give signatures to guests.

A fashion show features at one company party.

Half-naked Western models feature in a catwalk.

People grab at RMB100 bills at one company party.

In addition, prizes, or "gifts," are given out as a new year bonus to those who have accomplished their work exceptionally over the past year.

According to a confidential gift list, companies will be dishing out a various assortment of gifts, ranging from cash and cars, to various electronics. For one lucky JD.com employee, they will be receiving a one-year access pass to one of the company’s helicopters. At Tencent, an employee will be given RMB200,000 in cash, and another a brand new Mini Cooper.

In 2015, controversy sparked online after a gift list revealed that one employee of Internet security company 360 would be "rewarded" with a night with a Japanese porn star, JULIA. Though the story was probably a hoax, 360 never denied that it happened.

While no such gift was stated on the list this year, only invitees will ever know how true, or extravagant, these parties really are.

[Images via Paikekong on WeChat]

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