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- Lion and dragon dances on the streets — Loud, athletic and impossible to miss: troupes weave through shopping streets, markets and malls, jumping between poles or snaking under lanterns. The energy is contagious, the drumming addictive, and in Malaysia you’ll often catch hybrid styles and community competitions that turn the whole neighbourhood into a cheering crowd.
- Temple visits and lantern displays — Temples light up with thousands of lanterns, incense and nightly rituals that feel cinematic after dark. It’s a great way to see traditional prayer practices up close and to admire elaborate lantern sculptures and temple architecture — some temples put on massive illuminated displays that transform the area into a glowing maze.
- Festive street markets and hawker food — These markets sell
- Lion and dragon dances on the streets — Loud, athletic and impossible to miss: troupes weave through shopping streets, markets and malls, jumping between poles or snaking under lanterns. The energy is contagious, the drumming addictive, and in Malaysia you’ll often catch hybrid styles and community competitions that turn the whole neighbourhood into a cheering crowd.
- Temple visits and lantern displays — Temples light up with thousands of lanterns, incense and nightly rituals that feel cinematic after dark. It’s a great way to see traditional prayer practices up close and to admire elaborate lantern sculptures and temple architecture — some temples put on massive illuminated displays that transform the area into a glowing maze.
- Festive street markets and hawker food — These markets sell tangerines, kumquat trees, pineapple tarts, bak kwa and snacks you only see around CNY. They’re loud, aromatic and cheap — perfect for sampling seasonal treats, grabbing last-minute decorations or just people-watching as shoppers haggle and stock up for the holidays.
- Reunion dinners and the Yee Sang toss (lo hei) — Family feasts are a central ritual: multi-course meals where every dish means something (prosperity, longevity, abundance). The Yee Sang toss is a tabletop party — everyone stands, heaps raw fish salad with colorful ingredients and tosses it sky-high while shouting wishes. It’s communal, a bit messy, and my personal favorite for pure fun and photo moments.
- Open houses and the multicultural street vibe — What makes Malaysian CNY special is openness: families, businesses and even politicians host open houses where anyone can drop in for food and greetings. Mix that with Malay, Indian and other Chinese festival elements, and you’ll see a cultural mash-up you won’t get elsewhere — polite, hospitable, and full of free kuih if you time it right.
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Best Backpacking
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.