KUNG HEI FAT CHOI!

That’s ‘happy new year’ in Cantonese, of course. China is gearing up for New Year (also known as the Spring festival), which falls on January 28. You can celebrate the Year of the Rooster while perched at the following restaurants (or enjoy the DP Dragon Boat Festival, which is the first sporting event to take place at the Dubai Water Canal, on January 27 and 28).

Na3na3 at The Address Dubai Mall has a tea ceremony and a buffet of Chinese culinary staples such dim sum, Peking duck and more. From Dh195 per person, on January 28, 7pm onwards. Call 04 888 3444.

Royal China Dubai at DIFC will welcome guests with a bespoke golden mocktail to match the lucky colours of the Year of the Rooster followed by baked golden bun, roasted and poached chicken with garlic, sticky rice dumplings and sweet osmanthus flower pudding, followed by a gift of traditional red packets handed out to diners. January 27 to February 2. Call 04 354 5543.

They’re not the only ones giving. Hakkasan restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are giving fortune in the form of a Year of the Rooster coin. You’ll be fortunate enough with the Golden Halo dessert: banana and peanut cake with a five-spice infused cream, caramel, chocolate and peanut topped with gold leaf. Diners can write wishes for the year on ribbons, to be hung in the eatery (January 22-February 22).

Gaucho in Dubai’s DIFC has 12 days of Chinese New Year-themed mocktails until January 31. Each is inspired by the 12 Chinese zodiac signs; from Dh38. Call 04 422 7898.

At Burj Al Arab, pan-Asian restaurant Junsui is celebrating from January 28 to February 2 with a lunch from Dh495 per person and a dinner at Dh550 per person. Call 04 301 7600. Latitude, Jumeirah Beach Hotel has an Asian-themed evening on January 27 and lunch or dinner on January 28, from Dh275 per person. Call 04 432 3232. Zheng He at Souk Madinat Jumeirah will roll out a three-course menu on January 28 with traditional dances, calligraphy and other activities. Dh350 per person, two-guest minimum; call 04 432 3232.

In other parts of Asia, new year is celebrated with a salad that is tossed high, high in the air. Grand Hyatt’s Singaporean restaurant Peppercrab is serving Yee Sang salad from January 26-February 4.

The Shangri-La Dubai is doing it Cantonese style with a 10-course set menu at Shang Palace from January 27-February 3 at Dh388 per person; call 04 405 2703. Make sure you’re in the lobby on January 28 for the lion dance at 9am.

It’s not all eating, of course. Head to Yas Mall from January 25-31 for parades, stage performances (dragon dance troupes, kung fu acrobats and Chinese fan and ribbon dances), calligraphy and sugar painting and Chinese language workshops for children.