Traditional or luxury version: two ways to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Paris

Traditional version

After two years of Covid, Chinese New Year is making a comeback in Paris.

Between celebrations and parades, the capital will vibrate to the sound of Asian culture.

If the Lunar New Year is celebrated on January 22, with a spotlight on the Water Hare (symbol of vigilance and skill), many festivities will dot the capital for two weeks, including the parade of the Comité du Faubourg Honored Saint.

The parade, organized on

from 2 p.m., will invite the curious to celebrate the end of the winter solstice.

For the occasion, artists from the Paris Lion Sport group will invest the Faubourg Saint-Honoré in a whirlwind of percussion and shimmering colors.

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The grand parade of the 13th arrondissement will be held on

, from 12 p.m.

Red, the flagship color of this Chinese New Year, will break between Avenue de Choisy and Avenue d'Ivry.

Tigers, dragons, dancers and musicians in traditional costumes will brighten up the streets of the district.

The Water Hare should meanwhile be declined in different forms: stuffed animals, illustrations and paintings.

After two years of absence, the famous fashion show in the 13th arrondissement of Paris will take place on January 29.

(Here, the parade that took place in 2017.) FRANÇOIS GUILLOT / AFP

In parallel with the colorful processions, the town hall of the 13th arrondissement of Paris is organizing, with the Boyan association, on

an afternoon of thematic workshops.

On the program: discovery of traditional music, group dancing, tea tasting or even a calligraphy workshop.

Volunteers and actors will welcome visitors in traditional Chinese costume, the Hanfu, from 2:30 p.m.

For an explosion of the senses, head for the Food Market, designed in partnership with Zhao Groupe.

From

, from 6 p.m., the best Asian canteens in the capital will be gathered in this food court.

Thanks to Plus de Piment, Chatime or Panda Panda, fans of dumplings, baozi, nian gao and jianbing guozi will be delighted.

Luxury version

Under the glass dome of La Bauhinia, brunch will be exceptionally composed of delicacies from the Middle Kingdom.

Shangri-La / Photo press

Want a great moment?

See you at 11 a.m.,

, on the forecourt of Shangri-La.

Paying homage to the group's Asian origins, the Parisian palace perpetuates the tradition with a divine programme.

Opening of the festivities with the traditional Lion Dance, a must for major celebrations, the animal being considered a lucky charm, a symbol of strength and courage.

Dressed in a costume, the dancers imitate the various movements and behaviors of the lion to the rhythm of drum and gong beats.

This ceremony will take place throughout the establishment, from the entrance hall to under the glass dome of La Bauhinia, where a new version of the brunch (€178 per person) will be unveiled, with dim sums and baos prepared at everyone's view.

To prolong the festivities, the Shang Palace, the hotel's starred restaurant, has also planned an exceptional menu (€188 per person) with wonton soup with langoustines, lacquered duck, blue lobster, wagyu beef with black truffles. The high point: the Clementine from pastry chef Maxence Barbot, a trompe-l'oeil with its biscuit and vanilla mousse, enhanced by a tart jam.

In a cozy and intimate atmosphere, the Steam Bar unveils a menu with Hong Kong influences.

Steam Bar / Photo press

For a confidential evening, head for Saint-Germain-des-Prés where the Steam Bar showcases Hong Kong cuisine.

Dressed in dark wood and crimson lanterns, this intimate restaurant is led by chef Chi Cheung Wong, former dim sum master at Shang Palace.

The tasting menu (€65 per person), specially designed for the occasion, gives pride of place to these ravioli with an assortment of 8 pieces with controlled flavors: siu mai with pork and smoked scamorza, taro and rhubarb, hakao aubergine and yuzu or even beef and anise.

Green papaya salad, pan-fried bao with lacquered pork, trio of meatballs and big black sesame mochi complete this Hong Kong flight.

A real flight to the Middle Kingdom.

Practical notebook

Parade of the Faubourg Saint-Honoré Committee, scheduled for January 23, from 2 p.m.

Meet at the corner of Faubourg Saint-Honoré and rue Royale (Paris VIII).

Grand parade of the 13th arrondissement, scheduled for January 29, between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.

It will take place between Avenue de Choisy, Porte de Choisy and Avenue d'Ivry.

Chinese New Year at the 13th century town hall.

Salle des Fêtes du XIIIe, 1 Place d'Italie, 75013 Paris, between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Various shows and activities will be presented (music, group dancing, Hanfu fashion show, tea tasting, calligraphy workshop , etc.) Access is free for the public.

The Food Market.

1 boulevard de Belleville, 75020 Paris.

Beng Beng, Yuxi, Loaf, Panda Panda, Sucrepice, Plus de Piment, Chatime, and other restaurants will be present from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on January 26.

A lion dance show will also be offered.

Shangri-La (Tel.: 01 53 67 19 98).

10 avenue d'Iéna, 75116 Paris.

At the Bauhinia, brunch offered exclusively on Sunday January 22, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

At the Shang Palace, an exceptional menu served every evening from Thursday 19 to Monday 23 January.

Reservation essential.

Steam Bar (Tel.: 01 45 48 96 65).

2 Rue du Sabot, 75006 Paris.

Menu offered every evening from Monday 16 to Sunday 22 January.