NE1's guide on how to celebrate Chinese New Year 2022!
The Year of the Tiger in the Toon!
We’re saying nĭ hăo to NE1’s Chinese community this season, as the Year of the Tiger lands in NE1!
Although celebrations may be slightly different this year, your trusty NE1 magazine is bringing you a handy guide to ensure you can still celebrate Chinese New Year in style, from sampling delicious Chinese cuisine to checking out some local landmarks, or hitting a few cool cultural hotspots this February.
Time to celebrate Chinese New Year - your way!
While there’s nothing quite like the enthralling Chinese New Year celebrations in Newcastle, which see our wonderful city transformed into a sea of colour and culture, this year’s event is another victim of ‘That which will not be named’ (the dreaded Covid).
Whilst there won’t be the ever-popular dragon dance, or the street parades and stalls, that doesn’t mean you can’t immerse yourself in Chinese culture and celebrate Chinese New Year in your own way in some of the finest places around the city!
It’s a celebration that’s always red-circled in our social diaries, so we want to make sure you can still celebrate Chinese New Year at your own pace, your way, and with your nearest and dearest with our handy NE1 guide!
We’re celebrating this unique part of our city by guiding you to some of the must-know spots and showcasing some truly scrumptious morsels to devour. Think of it as a self-guided Chinese New Year tour, now let’s get to it!
Celebrate Chinese New Year in Newcastle!
Grab a taste of Newcastle's vibrant Chinese community with these wonderful eateries!
UMAI MI - GREY'S QUARTER
Start your culinary journey at this fantastic pan-Asian restaurant slap bang in the centre of the city. Umai Mi’s menu is a delicious fusion of traditional and modern flavours that features an array of taste-bud tingling dishes! From sizzling king prawn hotplates to scrumptious tofu and ramen bowls, Umai Mi has everything you need for an authentic Asian dining experience.
To celebrate the Year of the Tiger, they've introduced a limited edition Sushi Roll launching on 1st February, packed with Salmon, Tuna, Ebi Prawn and Avocado. They're also giving away lucky red envelopes to diners between 1st - 8th Feb, with a surprise gift inside from £5 & £10 gift vouchers, 10% off and even free Softail!
HIYOU SUPERMARKET - NEWGATE STREET
A pillar of Newcastle’s Asian community, you can get lost in HiYou Supermarket’s marvellous aisles of food, drink and authentic Asian products. A food emporium with everything you need to make great tasting pan-Asian dishes, pop in and grab some ingredients to make your own feast to celebrate Chinese New Year!
JASMINE BAKERY - FENKLE STREET
Swing by Fenkle Street and try the Chinese delights on offer at Jasmine Bakery! It's a wonderful place that offers a wide selection of lush breads, scrumptious cakes, noodles and other mouthwatering morsels to take away for Chinese New Year celebrations.
KING NEPTUNE - STOWELL STREET
Our first stop on Stowell Street! Dive head-first into a sea of award-winning banquet food at King Neptune! With so many different full-bodied flavours on offer, the menu is sure to delight even the fussiest of foodies.
NAN BEI DUMPLING & TEA BAR - GRAINGER MARKET
One of Grainger Market’s many independent food retailers, Nan Bei is the perfect place to grab a quick bite of some extraordinary Chinese street food. Specialising in traditionally filled dumplings, their great value meal deals have become the stuff of legends amongst students and those in the know! Five dumplings and a sweet bun for £5? You’ve just got to try them!
facebook.com/ nan-bei-dumpling-tea-bar
AMAYSIA RESTAURANT - STOWELL STREET
A stylish and cosy restaurant in the heart of Chinatown, Amaysia boasts an extensive menu filled with Pan-Asian delights, each as delicious as the last! From authentic fruit teas to spicy curries and flavourful hot pots, Amaysia really has something for everyone. They’ve even got a full vegetarian menu!
LANDMARK - STOWELL STREET
This firm favourite is Chinese fine dining at its best, stylish and sophisticated! Perfect for a swanky family dinner or Chinese New Year celebrations with your gang.
BUBBLE CHA - STOWELL STREET
Bubble tea is a traditional treat from Taiwan, not China, but Bubble Cha is situated in the heart of Chinatown and it would be a crime to visit and not try one of their delicious flavoured teas! Make your own flavour and enjoy Chinese New Year with one of these mouthwatering drinks in hand.
The history of Newcastle’s Chinatown
1978
Wing Hong Chinese Restaurant becomes the first Chinese-owned business on Stowell Street after moving from Westgate Road. This move prompted many more Chinese businesses and restaurants to follow and set up a hub for the burgeoning Chinese community in the city centre!
1988
For the first time, businesses along Stowell Street were allowed to have signs in Chinese as well as English, marking a cultural shift towards the official recognition of the area as Chinatown.
2004
The iconic Chinese Arch was built and installed by craftsmen from Shanghai. Standing 11m tall on St. Andrews Street, at the northernmost extent of the Chinatown, it’s flanked by two Chinese guardian lions facing St. James’ Park.
2008
22 Chinese style lanterns were installed in Stowell Street to replace the existing street lights and cement the unique characteristics of the street.
2022
The Year of the Tiger will be celebrated for the fourth time in Newcastle since the first Chinese business moved to Stowell Street, marking a year of courageousness and bravery!
How are you celebrating Chinese New Year in Newcastle? Get in touch via our social channels. Twitter: @NewcastleNE1, Instagram: @NewcastleNE1, Facebook: @GetIntoNewcastle.
