Things You'll Need:
- Red envelopes
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Step 1
If you’re going to take a trip, plan well in advance. It is very difficult to buy train tickets or book hotel rooms in Taiwan during Chinese New Year. In fact, if you haven’t already done so then you will probably be out of luck. For many people in Taiwan, Chinese New Year is their only holiday--you will be competing with people who have been planning for months. Although it may be possible to book a flight outside the country the day before Chinese New Year begins, all seats might be booked. Even if you do find an available seat, the price will be jacked up a lot higher than it would have been several months before.
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Step 2
Stock up on food. For two days during Chinese New Year in Taiwan, food stands, and places of businesses are closed tight. This doesn’t include the 7-11 and some Western restaurants. However, if cold noodles and soft drinks aren’t your idea of good food for 48 hours, make sure your fridge is stocked, especially if you don’t live in a large city.
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Step 3
Learn Mahjong. The clickety-clack you hear as you wander the Taiwanese streets during new years is the sound of dozens of plastic tiles smacking down on whatever impromptu surface is serving as the playing board. Older Taiwanese people (and some of the younger ones) will often break out the Mahjong tiles during Chinese New Year. If you plan on playing remember that gambling is occasionally involved. If you can’t read the characters, you might just want to watch.
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Step 4
Buy earplugs. Fireworks, fireworks and more fireworks--for many people that sums up Chinese New Year in a nutshell. If your home or hotel happens to be next to a temple then watch out: you’re going to be hearing successive volleys of explosions for hours.
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Step 5
Get your red envelopes. Receiving money in red envelopes is something that every Taiwanese child--and a few adults--look forward to every Chinese New Year. Generally speaking, those with authority give money to those under them: parents give to children and bosses give to workers. The relationship between the different parties can sometimes be complex so if in doubt, ask a Taiwanese friend to make sure no misunderstandings take place.
