Chinese New Year celebrations in Yogyakarta are always a vibrant blend of color, culture, and tradition. The city welcomes the Lunar New Year with Barongsai (lion dances), cultural performances, and a wide array of festive food. While temples and Chinese restaurants are often associated with the celebration, did you know that the real heart of the festivities lies in Ketandan Chinatown?
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Ketandan area located in the heart of Malioboro, the neighborhood area is transforms into a cultural festival ground filled with parades, food bazaars, and traditional performances during the CNY season. It’s where you’ll find the most authentic and inclusive Chinese New Year experience in the city.
Here’s your complete guide to the best places and experiences to celebrate the Chinese New Year in this charming cultural city!
Chinese New Year Celebration in Yogyakarta
Kampung Ketandan becomes the epicenter of this cultural celebration because of its historic Chinatown, which beautifully reflects the harmony between Chinese and Javanese traditions in Yogyakarta. The area hosts the much-anticipated Pekan Budaya Tionghoa Yogyakarta (PBTY), a week-long cultural festival featuring Barongsai, dragon dances, Potehi puppet shows, calligraphy contests, and traditional fashion parades.
Temples like Klenteng Gondomanan and Tjen Ling Kiong Poncowinatan also play an essential role in the spiritual side of the celebration. Devotees perform rituals, light incense, and offer prayers for good fortune in the coming year. These sacred ceremonies not only hold spiritual value but also offer insight into the rich cultural roots of the local Chinese community.
Beyond religious and cultural sites, the festive spirit spills over into modern spaces. Malls like Plaza Ambarrukmo and Pakuwon Mall, along with numerous restaurants and hotels across the city, join the celebration with lion dance shows, Chinese cultural workshops, and gala dinners featuring traditional delicacies like Yu Sheng and Peking duck. These modern venues make Chinese New Year in Yogyakarta a truly inclusive city-wide celebration that blends tradition with modern entertainment.
Where to Celebrate Chinese New Year in Yogyakarta?
Want to experience the vibrant and colorful atmosphere of Chinese New Year? Yogyakarta offers several special spots that become the heart of the celebration each year. Here’s the complete list:
Kampung Ketandan
This historic Chinatown is the heart of Chinese New Year in Yogyakarta. Every year, it hosts PBTY (Pekan Budaya Tionghoa Yogyakarta), a festival that brings the streets alive with hundreds of food and art stalls, cultural competitions, barongsai shows, and more. In 2025, the event takes place from 6–12 February, kicking off with a colorful Parade Nusantara.
The entire area is decorated with red lanterns, dragon ornaments, and Mandarin archways, creating an immersive Lunar New Year experience. Kampung Ketandan is more than just a festive spot, it’s an educational and cultural hub that welcomes everyone to appreciate Chinese heritage in a Javanese context.
Klenteng Gondomanan (Tjen Ling Kiong)
As one of the oldest temples in the city, this temple serves as a spiritual center for Chinese New Year rituals. Established in 1881, Tjen Ling Kiong becomes a sacred space for prayers, incense offerings, and ceremonies honoring ancestors. The serene atmosphere, featured by traditional Chinese music and glowing red candles, offers visitors a touching cultural encounter.
Tourists are welcome to observe the rituals, including the lighting of giant red candles and the presentation of food offerings. These ceremonies highlight family values and ancestral respect, core pillars of Chinese culture.
Plaza Ambarrukmo
Plaza Ambarrukmo adds a modern twist to the celebration with dazzling lion dances, cabaret competitions, and high-energy liong (dragon dance) performances in the main atrium. The mall’s décor transforms into a red and gold wonderland, with festive deals and seasonal dishes available at many of its restaurants and tenants.
It’s the perfect destination to combine celebration with shopping and dining, attracting families, youth, and tourists alike.
Pakuwon Mall Yogyakarta
Expect a grand performance when you visit Pakuwon Mall during the Lunar New Year. The mall organizes dynamic lion dance shows with acrobatic stunts and rhythmic drum beats. These performances extend beyond the mall’s indoor space, often taking place in outdoor plazas and atriums.
Visitors can also enjoy Chinese-themed photo booths, perfect for social media. With such lively entertainment and a warm festive vibe, Pakuwon Mall is a go-to spot for a memorable New Year experience.
Gembira Loka Zoo
Gembira Loka Zoo offers a family-friendly celebration through its “Mbiro Carnival: Imlek Edition”, a unique event that blends Chinese culture with wildlife education. The zoo hosts barongsai performances and interactive children’s games within its lush setting.
This celebration fosters a meaningful connection between families and nature while promoting harmony among people, animals, and tradition. Affordable tickets and kid-friendly activities make it an ideal place for families celebrating Chinese New Year together.
Kelenteng Poncowinatan
Another sacred site worth visiting, Poncowinatan Temple, showcases intricate Chinese architecture and holds midnight prayers to welcome the New Year. Locals and tourists alike are drawn to this peaceful temple to observe and participate in the rituals.
Inside, the air is filled with the scent of incense and sounds of prayer. Offerings of fruit, candles, and joss sticks add to the ceremonial atmosphere, making it a spiritually enriching experience.
Teras Malioboro
Teras Malioboro held a cultural stage during the Chinese New Year and PTBY Festival, where visitors were entertained with captivating performances, including lion dances, traditional dances, ethnic music, and parades highlighting the blend of Chinese and Javanese traditions.
The ambiance becomes magical at night, with glowing lanterns and high-energy shows. It’s a wonderful stop for travelers who want to immerse themselves in the Chinese New Year while exploring the famous Malioboro Street.
Pekan Budaya Tionghoa Yogyakarta (PBTY)
Organized annually by the Jogja Chinese Art & Culture Center (JCACC), this festival is the highlight of Lunar New Year celebrations in Yogyakarta. Spanning nearly a week, from before New Year’s Eve until after Cap Go Meh, PBTY captures the spirit of cultural harmony and heritage.
Enjoy thrilling barongsai and dragon dances performed by both youth and adults, who rehearse for weeks leading up to the festival. Other activities include Potehi puppet shows, Chinese calligraphy contests, children’s competitions, and traditional fashion showcases.
Over 270 food and craft stalls line the streets of Ketandan, offering everything from Chinese delicacies to Indonesian street snacks. The 2025 edition also introduces eco-friendly programs like recycled art exhibits and green campaigns, turning this festival into a cultural celebration with a cause.
The Duck King, Plaza Ambarrukmo
If you’re looking to celebrate Chinese New Year with a feast, The Duck King is an excellent choice. Located in Plaza Ambarrukmo, the restaurant rolls out exclusive menus and promotions for the Lunar New Year.
The Duck King serves the signature Chinese New Year menu– Yu Sheng, a symbolic salad made with fresh vegetables, salmon, and sweet sauce. The “Lo Hei” ritual of tossing the salad together while wishing each other prosperity adds a fun and meaningful touch to the celebration.
Other highlights include Bifengtang-style prawns, tender beef ribs, and premium seafood selections. They also offer festive hampers, perfect for sharing good luck with family and friends. With its elegant ambiance and auspicious cuisine, The Duck King promises a delightful and lucky dining experience.