Celebrate The Chinese New Year: Our Traditions & Signature Dishes
Celebrate the Chinese New Year with us at Blue Pavilion and indulge in some of our set menus. Crafted by our team of expert chefs, our soulful dishes are sure to take you on a journey into the traditions, history and culinary expertise of China.
For just £38 per person, you can indulge in some of our classic set menus and taste exquisite authentic recipes for yourself. Here, we’ll talk about the most celebrated traditions in the Chinese New Year, as well its history and the food that is shared in these events. We’ll also explore the reasons why our set menus will make your night one to remember!
2026: The Symbol Of The Horse & Yearly Traditions
This year, China celebrates the year of the horse. It’s a symbolism of strength, optimism and opportunity, which are all key values we’d like to share at Blue Pavilion.
The horse is the 7th animal in the 12 year Chinese zodiac cycle, and it’s also associated with fire, symbolic of passion and intensity. People born in the year of the horse are said to be ambitious and full of energy, as well as warm-hearted and adventurous.
2025 was the year of the snake, symbolising wisdom and transformation – just like the shedding of old skin celebrating a new one. Last year, many festivals featured snake costumes, decorations and carnival floats. Every year, on the Chinese New Year’s Eve (16th February) the traditions will start with family dinners, fireworks and the Spring Festival Gala. This is the largest TV show in China, where all families gather at home and watch it to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one.
During the day, big cities and towns in China often see many lively and colourful parades and performances through the streets, featuring dances, carnival floats, as well as outdoor fairs and markets. Many people like to purchase fresh spring flowers as a traditional mark of good luck before the New Year starts.
The day also consists of spiritual and religious worship, and many people attend temples to pray and carry out rituals such as incense burning, which is believed to bring good luck and blessings.
The History Of Chinese New Year
For over 2000 years, China has continued its 12 year zodiac cycle that switches from animal to animal, including the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Deeply rooted in both astronomy and ancient folklore, this zodiac cycle tells so many stories.
Interestingly, the 12 year zodiac is partly based on Jupiter’s orbit as it takes approximately 12 years to orbit the sun, but it can also correspond to the 12 moons that are usually found in a solar year.
In terms of folklore, it has been understood that the symbols behind the animals date all the way back to the Jade Emperor, who invited all 12 animals to a “great race” across a river. The first 12 animals that won the race were awarded with having a zodiac year named after them!
In China, we celebrate the new year in February as we tend to follow a lunisolar calendar, as opposed to a Gregorian calendar that is used in the west. Each month begins with a new moonphase, so the lunisolar calendar follows this.
Key Signature Dishes Celebrated In The Spring Festival
There are several key dishes that many people love to eat as they celebrate the New Year in China, each holding cultural significance and symbolism behind their cuisine.
One of the most renowned dishes are Jiaozi dumplings, often made from ground pork, shrimp, ginger and dried pepper, and some vegetarian options usually have finely chopped leeks and shiitake mushrooms. Widely shared between friends and family, these dumplings symbolise wealth and prosperity as they’re said to resemble ancient Chinese gold ingots, a type of currency used in ancient imperial china.
Spring rolls are also another common dish that are prepared during the Chinese New Year, often made with various meats, vegetables and a crunchy wrapper. They also symbolise wealth and prosperity, and people share them for good luck as the new year approaches.
Changsou Mian is another authentic dish that people tend to enjoy during this tradition. Usually, it’s made with ginger, garlic and vegetables, and the long unbroken noodles are symbolic for longevity and a healthy life.
Discover Our Authentic Set Menus
The Chinese New Year is all about celebrating with friends and family, as we welcome new beginnings in this tradition.
There’s no better way to celebrate this than by indulging in some of our wonderful set menus, so let’s take a look at them to get a feel for their dishes.
Our classic set menu is all about sharing, tasting authentic recipes and enjoying the indulgent balance of the sweet and savoury. For starters, you can celebrate the New Year with our selection of tasty treats, including our Kataifi Dragon Rolls, Teriyaki Chicken Skewers, Golden King Prawn Toast with Black Truffle and Golden Chicken and Cheese Rolls. To get a taste for everything, you can even opt for our signature deep fried sharing platter, which includes all four of these gorgeous dishes.
Expertly crafted by our chefs, our team of experts steam, fry, boil and use various aromas to preserve and enhance flavour. If you love crunchy textures in food, the Kataifi Dragon Rolls are certainly the one for you, or if you love sweetness balanced with savoury, our Teriyaki Chicken Skewers are a great way to start your evening.
We also have an array of gorgeous mains to choose from, including our traditional Fillet Steak in Mongolian Sauce, Fillet Steak in Black Pepper Sauce and King Prawns with Tenderstem Broccoli. A hearty balance of nutritious vegetables and tender meats, these dishes are certainly the ones to choose if you’re looking for well-rounded and authentic cuisine.
Why not find out some more information on our cooking techniques and the role of aromatics in Chinese cuisine? We break down the cultural significance of different aromas and how they play a crucial role in the tastes, nutrients and restaurant experience.
As an extension of our classic set menu, our supreme set menu is perfect if you’re feeling particularly indulgent and you’re wanting to treat yourself or a special someone to our delicacies.
On this menu, our starters differ from the classic set menu, and we have a wide selection of starters that include Iberico Siu Mai, Iberico Xiao Long Bao, Black Gold King Prawn Ha Gau and Japanese Wagyu Beef Dumplings. Like the classic menu, you have the choice to taste all 4 of these dishes if you’re feeling adventurous.
The supreme menu also includes exquisite dishes such as our Grilled Salmon Fillet in Sweet Soy Sauce and Crispy Water King Prawns In Honey Wasabi Sauce – perfect if you love the taste of the ocean contrasted with the sweetness of the sauce.To get more of a sense for our dishes, why not take a look at our visual menu page where we have some photographs of our signature dishes?
If you’re fancying a quiet escape, we offer a wide variety of private dining settings. Whether you want to enjoy your meals with your family away from the hustle and bustle of the restaurant, or you’re wanting a romantic date in an exclusive setting, our private dining room settings are a lovely way to spend your evening at Blue Pavilion.
Named after very precious gemstones such as Jade and Amber, our private dining rooms make a quiet escape: perfect for uninterrupted conversations and a peaceful evening. We also have our karaoke room, where you’ll be able to sing and dance the night away whilst enjoying our delicious meals – a memorable way to join us in celebrating the Chinese New Year!
Book your table with us now to experience authentic and cultural fine dining. Whether you’d like to join us in celebrating the New Year or you fancy treating someone, you’re sure to not be let down with the food here at Blue Pavilion. Follow our Instagram page to get an insight into what our restaurant looks like and how we present our dishes. We’ll also keep you updated with the latest events and discounts!