Chinese New Year celebrations in Joburg are an exuberant, noisy and colourful affair and are usually spread through the weeks before and after the official date of Chinese New Year (in 2017 Jan 28), taking place in Joburg's First Chinatown (in the City Centre), the New Chinatown in Cyrildene and at the Chinese Buddhist temple in Bronkhorstspruit east of Pretoria. In 2017 according to the Chinese zodiac we are entering the year of the Red Fire Rooster.<br /> <br /> <strong>Chinese New Year in First Chinatown</strong><br /> Joburg's First Chinatown on Commissioner St celebrates Chinese New Year on <strong>Saturday January 28</strong> with a massive fireworks display, tons of street food stalls and plenty of traditional entertainment. Celebrations start at 17:30 ending at 21:00 with a grand musical fireworks display. <em>11 Commissioner St, Ferreirasdorp, City Centre</em><br /> <br /> <strong>Chinese New Year at Nan Hua Temple </strong><br /> Chinese New Year celebrations at the magnificent Nan Hua Temple (about 45 minutes drive northeast of Joburg) are a relatively quiet affair compared to those in Joburg's Chinatowns, making this is a good destination for young families. The celebrations take place on<strong> Sunday January 29 </strong>and include a special programme of martial arts and traditional dancing and throughout the day visitors can shop for an array of traditional foods and handicrafts, paint their own lanterns and learn more about Buddhist culture. <em>Nan Hua Buddhist Temple, 27 Nan Hua St, Bronkhorstspruit ​</em><br /> <br /> <strong>Chinese New Year in Cyrildene</strong><br /> On <strong>Saturday</strong> <strong>February 4 </strong>it is the turn of Cyrildene, Joburg's biggest Chinatown, to celebrate Chinese New Year. The event is a noisy and colourful affair, with the long main street, Derrick Avenue, filled with streetside food stalls and tables and Cyrildene's many restaurants all offer special festive menus (book well in advance for a table, see Chinese restaurants for some suggestions on where to eat). In the early evening a long parade begins to wind its way up the street, led by a colourful Chinese lion who is followed by dancers in traditional costume and a long, dancing Chinese dragon. Cymbals crash and firecrackers flare as the lion visits every business along the street. Chinese New Year in Cyrildene is a busy, noisy and exciting affair - watch out for the many wayward fireworks! - that makes for a most memorable cultural experience. <em>Derrick Avenue, Cyrildene</em>