Chinese New Year is a visual event and special event. I remember when I was little my family used to go back to my parents' hometown for celebration. My grandma cooked lovely hometown dishes. All of us had long-life noodle with chicken soup and one egg. After dinner, all the kids will play fireworks with surround neighbourhood and on the street, eating Chinese New Year specially made cookies, nuts, cakes and nibble and also we received red packets from the elderly. Just right before midnight, my dad and uncles (my grandma had 8 kids; 2 daughters and 6 sons and each of them avg 2-3 kids, can you imagine how big my family is?!), they will prepare a special fireworks just like what you saw in New Year Eve but smaller scale. At that time, everyone was allowed to buy those firework until people misused and the government tighten the rules.

My family is now in Sydney and I have 2 young kids. We still keep this traditional event at home (without the fireworks of course!). We clean out the house before Chinese New Year because no cleaning on the first and second day because my mum said that you will sweep away the money and happiness. 😊

This year, Sydney will host a series of larger than life lanterns will come to Australia for the first time and be on display next to Sydney Harbour for ten days, to correspond with the annual event.

Created by Chinese artist Xia Nan for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, these larger than life lanterns also include women and children arranged in family groups. Fashioned out of fabric and wire, they have all the delicacy of a traditional Chinese lantern, on a scale that inspires awe. With 90 2.1 metre high warriors and two horses glowing in brilliant bursts of colour, this is a sight not to be missed.

The Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors have previously only been shown in China and the United Kingdom, and are in Australia for the first time as part of the City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival. Illuminated against the beauty of Sydney Harbour for ten days and nights only, this unique exhibition is an unforgettable experience.

For more information about this event, head to http://www.sydneychinesenewyear.com/festival-program/terracotta-warrior-exhibition/