WeChat ID beijing-kids About Feature Beijing's essential international family resource: beijingkids advertisement Temple Fair Closures We regret to inform you that the city’s temple fairs, which would usually be heaving with revelers in the coming days, have all been canceled. To be honest, aside from the few performances on display, temple fairs are truly awash in bad food and worse shopping. All you’re missing out on is some cotton candy, ice cream, chuar, and less than appetizing tanghulu, all of which can be consumed year-round in less gaudy environments. What's a Temple Fair? Spring Festival is a veritable tapestry of complex traditions and rituals steeped in ancient mythology, guiding everything from what color you should wear to what food you should eat and the presents you should give. It’s a time ostensibly reserved for family, resulting in the largest human migration on the planet as people make their way back to their hometowns, with an astounding 3 billion journeys estimated this year alone, although that number is quickly dwindling due to the rapidly developing coronavirus saga. Nevertheless, The sheer totality of this week-long event is a dizzying display of the richness that is Chinese culture, and one that is sure to enchant seasoned and rookie expats alike. Generally speaking, this massive movement of locals means there aren’t a whole lot of folks left to run those restaurants and shops you and your family love to frequent (save for the sweet deals we have been and will be, profiling this week), so the city all but shuts down. However, as businesses shutter their doors for much-needed family time, temple fairs pop up all over town. Whether these events actually showcase the very best that Chinese New Year (CNY) has to offer is debatable, with each event boasting a plethora of questionable snacks both Western and Eastern, games, art, handicrafts, performances, and more.  While temple fairs are usually billed as a must-see experience if you’re to fully immerse yourself in this wonderful country, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the few inherent downsides that come with them, and specifically, those that are particularly relevant to the current health crisis. Namely, some fairs attract a million visitors over four or five days, meaning in a good year, they can be uncomfortably crowded. This year, however, uncomfortably crowded has taken on an entirely new meaning. That is, we cannot, in good conscience recommend that you attend any temple fairs this year. As experts are recommending the avoidance of crowds to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, it’s an unfortunate fact that this year’s CNY festivities must take a backseat to the health and wellbeing of our communities and our readers. Moreover, given that they’re held outside during the height of winter, it’s going to be cold. Like, really cold.  And although some of the fairs will have interesting tchotchkes and knickknacks, the vast majority of what’s on sale is nothing more than your average cheap souvenir with an inflated price tag for the occasion. In fact, one of the most popular purchases of last year were poop emoji balloons, which surely left the Beijing old-timers scratching their heads in bewilderment. Photos: The Erica Chang via Wikicommons, Paul Louis via Wikicommons advertisement Hot Topics This Week Forget Temple Fairs. Here's Your CNY Bucket List Waxing Vaccines With Dr. Caligagan of Beijing United Family Hospital Lucky Sayings to Remember During CNY Go to "Discover" > "Top Stories" > "Wow" Posted Sending Scan with WeChat tofollow the Official Account