6 must-visit cities in China for Chinese New Year 2026 (2)

Shantou city, south China's Guangdong Province

If you want to experience a Chinese New Year that feels truly alive, loud, and electrifying, Shantou in southern China's Guangdong Province is a must-visit.

Here, the holiday spirit doesn't come from fireworks alone. It comes from Yingge dance, a folk performance so powerful that locals say once the drums begin, the New Year has officially arrived.

From the first day of the Chinese New Year, Yingge troupes visit villages and households to deliver New Year blessings, marching down streets and performing from neighborhood to neighborhood in an unstoppable wave of energy. The performances often continue throughout the first lunar month, earning Yingge dance its online nickname: "ultimate New Year atmosphere generator."

With wooden batons clacking in rhythm, dancers leaping and spinning like warriors, and the air filled with drumbeats and cheers, Yingge blends southern martial arts, opera, and dance into one breathtaking spectacle.

Originally inspired by the heroic brotherhood of "Water Margin," the tradition was recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in 2006. Today it has grown more inclusive, with more women joining the troupes and female Yingge performances drawing on legends such as Mu Guiying and Hua Mulan.

For travelers seeking the most intense and unforgettable New Year vibe, Shantou's Yingge is unmissable.

A Yingge dance team performs during an event celebrating the Spring Festival in Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 2, 2025.(Xinhua/ Yao Jun)