Penang: The Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration of the Year of the Horse offered a memorable experience for a group of Chinese tourists who chose to welcome the Lunar New Year in Malaysia, particularly in Penang.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the tourists noted that while the festival is celebrated worldwide, the Malaysian celebration stood out due to its vibrant cultural diversity and distinctive cuisine. Student Kai Yuan, 27, visiting Malaysia and Penang for the first time with his wife Zhang Yao, also 27, highlighted Penang as the ideal place to celebrate the New Year, owing to its large and lively Chinese community. He appreciated the warmth of the locals and was delighted by the widespread lion dance performances across the state.
Kai noted that in China, lion dances are typically seen only in major cities, requiring extensive travel. He expressed enthusiasm for the local cuisine, noting its fusion elements that offer a unique taste different from what he is accustomed to at home. He was particularly eager to try yee sang, a traditional festive dish not commonly available in China.
Meanwhile, businessman Xue Gang, 44, from Xiangzhou, observed that New Year celebrations in China are usually marked by family gatherings and visits to places of worship, making Malaysia’s lively atmosphere a pleasant surprise. He remarked that the celebration in Malaysia feels larger and more vibrant compared to previous experiences in Thailand. He also noted that in China, lion dances are generally limited to large cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Fujian.
Xue, traveling with his wife, daughter, and friends, mentioned that younger generations increasingly prefer celebrating with friends or traveling abroad instead of returning to their hometowns. He expressed a desire to bring his parents to Malaysia for the celebrations next year.
Piano teacher Zhao Zhuo, 35, visiting Malaysia for the first time with his mother Wang Lihui, 64, remarked on the noticeable differences in cuisine and lion dance performances. He mentioned that in China, they are more familiar with the dragon dance and usually eat dumplings during the New Year. In Penang, they encountered different dishes, including yee sang, which is not available in their country.
Earlier, Zhao and his mother were among 1,000 guests who enjoyed a festive reception organized by Shangri-La Rasa Sayang and Shangri-La Golden Sands. The event started with a Lion Eye-Dotting ceremony by the Cluster General Manager of both hotels, Jegan Selvarajan, symbolizing the lion’s awakening and bringing good luck and prosperity. The ceremony was followed by a lion dance parade around the resort, accompanied by the God of Wealth and the God of Laughter. Guests were entertained with cultural performances, including an acrobatic lion dance, a mask-changing act, a dragon dance, and traditional Chinese acrobatics. The celebration concluded with a yee sang tossing ceremony, symbolizing unity, prosperity, and togetherness in welcoming the Lunar New Year.