In most European countries, Christmas is considered the main winter holiday, while in Asia, as in Russia, the New Year occupies a central place. In some Asian countries it is even seen twice.
Especially for those who do not consider snow an obligatory attribute of a magical holiday, we have compiled a selection of cities where the night of the transition to the new calendar – from December 31 to January 1 – is celebrated on a special scale.
Singapore
The already vibrant metropolis is acquiring an additional layer of illumination for the New Year. Parties are being prepared everywhere, and the most pleasant thing for guests and residents of the city is to make wishes. Firstly, at the beginning of December, “Wish Trees” are installed on the Marina Bay embankment, on which everyone can attach a note. By the end of the month, the trees look like magical willows, glowing soft blue at night. In addition, there are three dozen stations scattered around the city where you can write kind words on a special inflatable “Sphere of Wishes.” On New Year’s Eve, all these spheres are collected and lowered into the water of the bay. On New Year’s Eve itself, Singapore glows with a bright kaleidoscope of fireworks in the sky, lights on the ground and spheres on the water.
Samui Island, Thailand
If you prefer fresh air on the ocean shore to walking through the bustling streets of a metropolis, Koh Samui is the ideal place for a holiday. On New Year’s Eve, bars host noisy parties, and some restaurants, on the contrary, offer a festive dinner in a quiet, romantic atmosphere. At midnight, the entire island lights up with fireworks, but the most beautiful sight is yet to come. After the last fireworks have gone off, the traditional Thai ceremony of Khom Ikhoi begins – the launching of flying lanterns into the sky, symbolizing new beginnings.
Kuala Lumpur
The capital of Malaysia says goodbye to the outgoing year with a grandiose ten-minute fireworks display at the KLCC park square near the Petronas Towers. The places with the best views are there at sunset, but the city has many observation decks and open roofs that offer a gorgeous view of the fire show. In Kuala Lumpur, it is generally customary to celebrate the New Year in the open air, and even the grandest party is held right on the street of Bukit Bintang, where the fashionable clubs are empty for the only day of the year, as everyone dances and has fun in the fresh air.
Hong Kong
New Year holidays in Hong Kong are a paradise for shopping lovers. Sales in shopping centers try to compete with huge street markets and fairs; at the end of December, here you can find and buy everything you can imagine. But on New Year’s Eve you should definitely go to the Victoria Bay embankment, where increasingly large-scale pyrotechnic shows are held year after year. It all starts with fireworks that shoot skyward and are doubled by reflections in the water, and then intricate fireworks soar into the sky, eventually forming into a giant Chinese dragon dancing right above the city.
Bangkok
On New Year’s Eve in Bangkok you feel like a part of a holiday on a global scale. The main celebration takes place at Central World Square, where a grand live concert with a laser show is held, and festive events from around the world are broadcast on giant video screens. After the clock counts down, fireworks shoot into the sky, and then the noisy crowd disperses to numerous bars and clubs, where the fun does not subside until the early morning.
