Staying in town over the Chinese New Year holiday and wondering how to celebrate? Sure, tons of places will be closed, but there are still plenty of CNY feasts, parties and events going on to keep you fed and entertained. Happy New Year everyone! 

Dinner

Feb 15: Jing Yaa Tang

Ring in the Year of the Dog at Jing Yaa Tang's gala dinner inspired by temple fairs. The JYT team will be taking over The Opposite House's beautiful Bei Space for a night of glamorous takes on traditional Chinese fare, live entertainment and fun prizes. Reserve an 8-person table for the family-style CNY dinner of your dreams.  

Thu Feb 15; RMB888 per person (minimum 8 guests per table). Jing Yaa Tang, see listing. 

Feb 15: The Great Wall Hotel 

The Great Wall Hotel is offering up lots of tasty options for the holiday. Come by during the Lunar New Year and enjoy group meals for 4-10 people. 

Thu Feb 15, 11.30am-2pm, 6-10pm; RMB1,688-3,888 (per table). The Great Wall Hotel, see event listing. 

Feb 15: Yue Feng Ge  

Yue Feng Ge has 10 exclusive set menus for Chinese New Year. Dine in style with symbolically lucky dishes, and slide your way into the Year of the Dog with prosperity.

Thu Feb 15; Yue Feng Ge (V-Continent Beijing Parkview Wuzhou Hotel), see event listing. 

Feb 15: Kerry

Usher in the New Year with an extravagant feast and celebration in Kerry’s Grand Ballroom. In addition to dinner, guests can enjoy free-flow soft drinks, the live CCTV New Year’s Gala Show, a one-day access pass to the Adventure Zone (for the kiddos), performances and lucky draws.

RMB458 or RMB558 per person (for a table of 6+), includes soft drinks, live CCTV New Year’s Gala Show, One day access pass to Adventure Zone, performances and luck draws. See a listing for Kerry Hotel.

Feb 15-18: NUO  

NUO Hotel Beijing is offering several Lunar New Year dinners to help you ring in the Year of the Dog. Enjoy a traditional ‘family reunion dinner’ of home-style meals with Cantonese twists, fit to serve 8-10 people. If you’re thinking a la carte, tuck into Chef Ho’s signature Poon’s Choice, a big bowl casserole. And if you’re thinking really big, you can even order a roasted suckling pig with crispy skin. 

Tue Feb 15-Sun Feb 18; NUO Hotel Beijing.

Brunch

Feb 19: New Year Brunch @ Zarah

Zara will be hosting a special brunch on Feb 19, 21 and 25. Expect an all-you-can-eat-buffet brunch featuring New Year's specials and Zarah's Sunday brunch classics -- a selection of cheeses and cold cuts, smoked salmon, freshly baked bread and croissants and more. In addition to an all-you-can-eat option, you can tack on RMB100 for all-you-can-drink Jing-A beer, wine and cocktails. 

Mon Feb 19, 11.30am-3pm; RMB198 (all you can eat), RMB298 (all you can eat and drink), RMB98 (kids 6-12). Zarah, see event listing. 

Parties

Feb 15: The Orchid

Great Leap Brewing and the Orchid Hotel are partnering up yet again for their annual Chinese New Year’s Party at the Orchid. There will be all-you-can-drink Great Leap beer and all-you-can-eat Indian-Mediterranean inspired food by Toast. 

Thu Feb 15, 9pm; RMB388. Reservations are recommended so contact jimmy@greatleapbrewing.com or go to the Orchid's official WeChat account.

Feb 20: "MY" Jiaozi Party at Zarah

Learn to make dumplings (or show off the skills you already have) at Zarah. For RMB108, you can make and eat unlimited dumplings, plus enjoy a free drink, all while DJs blast the tunes. 

Tue Feb 20, 6-9pm; RMB108 per person (RMB68 for kids aged 6-11). Zarah, see listing. RSVP before Feb 19 at 84039807 or info@cafezarah.com.

Events

Feb 15: Cultural Keys Spring Festival Eve Celebration

This will be a fun, interactive event geared at learning a bit about the cultural history surrounding the Spring Festival. The event will be held in the Tongzhou centre in Xiaopu Village. Guests will learn all about Chinese customs, as well as make dumplings and paper cuts and learn to paint with Chinese ink. There will be plenty of snacks and tea and firecrackers at midnight. 

Thur Feb 15, 4pm. Cultural Keys, see event listing. 

Feb 15-22: Jing-A’s Big Hongbao  

Staying in Beijing over Chinese New Year? Then you can win a year of free beer. Each beer you drink at either Jing-A location over the holiday will enter you into a raffle to win their Big Hongbao: a Mug Club membership, plus the ability to come in for a free pint every day for a year. 

Feb 15-22; Jing-A Taproom 1949 and Jing-A Brewpub Xingfucun.

Feb 17-21: Celtic Legends  

If you're looking for something to do over the holiday, check out Irish dancers Celtic Legends as they put on an amazing show of live traditional Irish dance, music and song. Established in 2001, the team has years of touring experience under their belt. Irish culture plays out to the sound of fiddles, pipes and moving ballads. 

Sat Feb 17-Wed Feb 21, 7.30pm; RMB280-1,080; Opera House of NCPA, see event listing. Tickets via sales@theatrebeijing.com.

Feb 19-21: National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine  

Celebrate the Spring Festival with none other than the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, who will be performing a special New Year’s Concert. 

Fri Feb 19-Sun Feb 21, 7.30pm; RMB100-880; Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, see event listing (tickets via en.damai.cn)