Celebrating Chinese New Year in Jakarta: Temples, Dragon Dances, and Feasts

The Cultural Roots of Chinese New Year in Jakarta

For decades, Chinese New Year — known in Indonesia as Imlek (short for Tahun Baru Imlek) — was officially suppressed in Indonesia. Under President Suharto’s New Order regime, which lasted from 1966 to 1998, public celebrations of Chinese culture were banned. Chinese-Indonesians could not display Chinese characters, speak Mandarin in public, or hold Imlek events openly. The holiday existed only behind closed doors, in quiet family gatherings with the curtains drawn.

That changed in 2002, when President Megawati Sukarnoputri declared Imlek a national public holiday. Since then, the celebration has grown into one of Jakarta’s most visually spectacular annual events. In 2026, Imlek falls on 29 January, marking the Year of the Snake. The festivities in Jakarta typically run for two full weeks, from a week before Imlek night through to Cap Go Meh, the fifteenth day that officially closes the lunar new year period.

Jakarta has the largest population of Chinese-Indonesians of any city in the country, estimated at around 600,000 to 700,000 people. Many trace their roots back five, six, or even ten generations — families who arrived from Fujian, Guangdong, and Hakka regions of southern China during the Dutch colonial era. Their descendants have built a culture that is neither purely Chinese nor purely Javanese, but something distinctly its own.

Key Temples and Their Ceremonies

Jakarta’s Chinese temples, known as klenteng, are the spiritual core of Imlek. These are not quiet meditation spaces during the new year — they are loud, smoky, emotionally charged places where hundreds of people come to pray, make offerings, and ask for blessings in the year ahead.

Vihara Dharma Bhakti (Klenteng Kim Tek Ie)

This is the oldest Chinese temple in Jakarta, built in 1650 in the heart of Glodok, the city’s Chinatown. During Imlek, the air inside is thick with incense smoke — a heavy, sweet, slightly woody smell that catches in your throat. Worshippers kneel before altars draped in red and gold, shaking cylindrical containers of numbered bamboo sticks (a divination practice called kio hio) until one stick falls out. The number on that stick tells them which fortune scroll to collect from the temple attendant.

On Imlek eve, the temple stays open all night. The sound of firecrackers — legal in limited quantities in Jakarta for Imlek — punctuates the prayers. Temple committees distribute red envelopes (angpao) to visitors and the community. Arrive before 9 PM on Imlek eve if you want to witness the most intense period of prayer.

Vihara Amurva Bhumi (Klenteng Hok Tek Bio)

Located in Menteng, this temple has a slightly more accessible feel than the crowded Glodok sites. It hosts ceremonial processions and is often where neighbourhood dragon dance troupes perform their first public routine of the year. The temple committee here is known for organising public cultural programs that non-worshippers can observe respectfully from designated areas.

Vihara Avalokitesvara (Pluit)

Up in North Jakarta, this large waterfront temple draws particularly large crowds from the Pluit and Penjaringan Chinese-Indonesian communities. During Cap Go Meh, the closing celebration, they hold a lantern procession that winds through the surrounding streets — one of the most photogenic moments of the entire Imlek season in Jakarta.

Dragon and Lion Dances: What You’re Actually Watching

The barongsai (lion dance) and liong (dragon dance) are the most visible performances of Imlek, and they are very different from each other — something most first-time visitors do not realise.

The lion dance involves two performers inside a single lion costume: one operates the head, the other the body and tail. The lion is a spiritual creature in Chinese tradition, believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. Businesses invite lion dance troupes specifically to “open the lion’s eyes” at their premises — a ritual called pem-bukaan mata — which is thought to bless the location for the coming year. The lion “eats” lettuce and a red envelope (angpao) hung at height, spits out the lettuce as a shower of good fortune, and keeps the cash as payment for the troupe. You will see this exact ritual happening at shop fronts, hotel lobbies, and mall entrances throughout Glodok and the broader Jakarta CBD for the first week of Imlek.

The dragon dance is a bigger production entirely. A single dragon — typically 20 to 40 metres long — requires ten to twenty performers carrying the body on poles, moving in synchronised waves. The dragon chases a glowing pearl (carried on a pole ahead of it), and the continuous undulating motion represents the flow of energy and prosperity. Dragon dances are usually reserved for major events: large temple celebrations, the Cap Go Meh street parade, and government-sponsored events at places like Monas (the National Monument).

The music accompanying both dances is deliberately overwhelming — crashing cymbals, booming drums, and the shriek of gongs. This is intentional. The noise is meant to frighten away bad spirits. If it feels almost too loud to stand next to, that is entirely the point.

The Feast: What Indonesians of Chinese Descent Eat During Imlek

The Imlek family dinner — held on the eve of the new year — is the emotional centre of the holiday. Every dish on the table carries symbolic meaning that has been passed down through generations.

Whole fish (ikan) is essential. The fish must be served whole — head and tail intact — because it represents completeness and a good beginning and end to the year. Among Hokkien-descended families in Jakarta, steamed fish with ginger and soy is standard. The head is pointed toward the most senior family member at the table as a sign of respect.

Long noodles (mie panjang umur) symbolise long life. They must not be cut or broken during cooking or eating. Slurping them whole from the bowl is not only acceptable — it is required.

Glutinous rice cake (kue keranjang, literally “basket cake”) is a sticky, dense sweet made from glutinous rice flour and sugar. The Hokkien name, nian gao, sounds like the words for “year higher,” meaning progress and advancement each year. In Jakarta’s Peranakan tradition, kue keranjang is often sliced and pan-fried in egg batter before eating — a preparation you will not find in mainland China.

Eight-treasure soup (sup delapan mutiara) and prosperity salad (yusheng, or lo hei in Cantonese) also appear widely. The yusheng — a raw fish salad with shredded vegetables, crackers, and sweet sauce — involves everyone at the table tossing the ingredients together with chopsticks as high as possible while shouting auspicious phrases. The higher the toss, the better the fortune. It makes a spectacular mess and is completely joyful.

On the streets of Glodok during Imlek, the smell of bakpao (steamed buns) and kue lapis legit (layered spiced cake) drifts from almost every doorway. Vendors sell candied kumquats, which represent gold coins, and dried persimmons arranged in decorative boxes as gifts.

Peranakan Jakarta: The Unique Chinese-Indonesian Culture Behind the Celebrations

Understanding Imlek in Jakarta means understanding the Peranakan identity — and it is genuinely distinct from Chinese culture in mainland China, Taiwan, or Singapore.

Peranakan (meaning “local-born” in Malay) refers to Chinese descendants who have been in the Indonesian archipelago for so many generations that they have absorbed Javanese, Betawi, Malay, and Dutch cultural elements into their daily lives. The Jakarta version — sometimes called Betawi-Chinese or Cina Betawi — speak a creole language that mixes Hokkien, Betawi Malay, and Dutch words. Many do not speak Mandarin or any Chinese dialect fluently.

This cultural fusion shows up directly in how Jakarta celebrates Imlek. The food contains kemiri (candlenut), kencur (lesser galangal), and petai (stink beans) — ingredients that belong squarely in Indonesian cooking, not Chinese. Peranakan clothing styles — kebaya encim for women, batik sarongs — appear alongside qipao at temple events. Some Peranakan families in Jakarta mark Imlek with offerings that blend Buddhist, Taoist, and Javanese animist elements in a way that would be completely unrecognisable in Beijing.

In 2026, there is growing public pride in this heritage. Jakarta’s municipal government has supported Peranakan cultural exhibitions at museums like the Museum Sejarah Jakarta (Fatahillah Museum) and Museum Bank Mandiri in Kota Tua during the Imlek period, and these are worth visiting for context before wandering through Glodok.

Glodok: Jakarta’s Chinatown During Imlek

Glodok, located in West Jakarta just south of Kota Tua (the old colonial district), transforms completely during Imlek. The neighbourhood is always a dense, layered place — electronics shops, herbalists, noodle stalls, and wholesale traders — but for two weeks each year it becomes something closer to a continuous street festival.

Red and gold lanterns are strung across every alley from early January. The main commercial streets, particularly Jalan Pancoran and Hayam Wuruk, are lined with stalls selling Imlek goods: paper offerings, incense bundles, decorative kumquat trees in ceramic pots, red envelopes printed with snakes (for the 2026 Year of the Snake), and boxes of kue keranjang wrapped in red cellophane.

On Imlek night itself, Glodok is genuinely overwhelming in the best possible way. Firecrackers go off without warning. The streets smell of burnt paper, incense, and frying oil. Families in matching red outfits push through the crowds. Lion dance troupes move from business to business in a trail of cymbals and drumbeats. Finding a spot on a second-floor balcony or an elevated walkway gives you the best vantage point — and some distance from the physical intensity at street level.

The Petak Sembilan market, the wet market at the heart of Glodok, is particularly atmospheric in the days leading up to Imlek. Vendors sell live chickens alongside ceremonial paper goods and fresh herbs used in offerings. It operates from around 4 AM and the busiest trading is over by 9 AM — early morning is when Glodok feels most alive and least crowded with visitors.

2026 Budget Reality: What Imlek in Jakarta Costs

Celebrating Imlek in Jakarta does not have to be expensive, but costs spike significantly in the days immediately around the holiday. Plan your budget around the following real 2026 figures.

Accommodation

• Budget: Guesthouses and budget hotels near Kota Tua or Glodok run IDR 300,000–500,000 per night. Expect basic rooms with air conditioning — functional rather than comfortable.
• Mid-range: Three-star hotels in Central or West Jakarta with breakfast included run IDR 700,000–1,200,000 per night. Prices rise by 20–40% during Imlek week — book at least six weeks ahead.
• Comfortable: Four and five-star hotels in the Jakarta CBD (SCBD, Sudirman, Thamrin corridors) run IDR 1,500,000–4,000,000 per night. Several hold their own Imlek dinner events, which are ticketed separately at IDR 350,000–900,000 per person.

Food and Drink

• Street food in Glodok: A full meal of noodles, bakpao, and a drink from street stalls costs IDR 30,000–70,000 per person.
• Warungs and local restaurants: IDR 50,000–150,000 per person for a proper meal.
• Imlek dinner at a Chinese-Indonesian restaurant: IDR 200,000–600,000 per person, depending on the menu and location. Reunion dinner packages at larger restaurants include multiple courses and are priced per table at IDR 1,500,000–5,000,000.
• Kue keranjang (gift boxes): IDR 35,000–120,000 depending on size and brand — these also make good souvenirs.

Transport

• The Jakarta MRT extended its Kota Tua station connectivity in late 2024, making Glodok significantly easier to reach by rail in 2026. A single MRT journey costs IDR 3,000–14,000 depending on distance.
• Ojek online (Gojek, Grab motorcycle taxis): IDR 10,000–30,000 for short trips within the area.
• Car-based rideshare to and from Glodok on Imlek night: expect surge pricing of IDR 80,000–200,000 depending on traffic and distance. Traffic around Glodok on Imlek eve is serious — allow 90 minutes more than normal.

Practical Logistics: When to Go, What to Wear, How to Navigate

Best Days to Visit

The single most intense night is Imlek eve (28 January 2026) — maximum crowds, maximum atmosphere, maximum noise. If you want the full sensory experience, this is the night. If you want to actually walk around comfortably and see performances properly, visit two or three days before Imlek when preparations are in full swing but crowds are lighter. Cap Go Meh (12 February 2026) — the fifteenth day — is the closing celebration and the day of the famous lantern procession. It draws enormous crowds but is also genuinely spectacular.

What to Wear

Red is welcome — locals appreciate it. Avoid white or black clothing at temple events, as both colours are associated with mourning in Chinese-Indonesian tradition. Wear closed-toe shoes; Glodok’s streets and temple courtyards are uneven and frequently wet from water used in cleaning ceremonial areas. Dress modestly for temple visits: covered shoulders, and fabric below the knee.

Getting Around

Use the MRT to Kota Tua station, then walk south into Glodok — it takes about 12 minutes on foot. Do not attempt to drive into Glodok on Imlek night; the streets become pedestrian-only in practice even if not officially. Motorcycle taxis drop off at the periphery. Arrive by 7 PM if you want to be positioned before the main ceremonies begin around 8–9 PM.

Language

Bahasa Indonesia works everywhere in Glodok and at all major temples. Many market traders and temple staff also speak some Hokkien or Mandarin. Basic greetings in Mandarin — Gong Xi Fa Cai (wishing you prosperity) — are warmly received, though not expected from foreign visitors.

Safety

Imlek crowds in Glodok are dense but generally calm and family-oriented. Keep your phone and wallet in front pockets in crowded alleys. The main risk is getting separated from your group in the narrow lanes of Petak Sembilan — agree on a meeting point before you enter the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chinese New Year a public holiday in Indonesia in 2026?

Yes. Imlek has been a national public holiday in Indonesia since 2002. In 2026, the official public holiday falls on 29 January. Government offices, banks, and many businesses close for the day. Some businesses in Glodok close for several days around the holiday for family gatherings.

Can non-Chinese Indonesians and foreign tourists participate in Imlek celebrations?

Absolutely. Jakarta’s Imlek celebrations are open to everyone. Temple events welcome respectful visitors of any background — simply observe the basic etiquette of dressing modestly, not interrupting active prayer, and asking before taking photographs of individuals. The street celebrations in Glodok are fully public events.

What is Cap Go Meh and how is it different from Imlek?

Cap Go Meh is the fifteenth and final day of the Chinese New Year period — falling on 12 February 2026. It marks the closing of the celebrations with lantern processions, large-scale lion and dragon dance performances, and public street events. Think of Imlek as New Year’s Eve and Cap Go Meh as the final farewell party two weeks later.

How far in advance should I book accommodation for Imlek in Jakarta?

At minimum six weeks ahead for mid-range hotels, and eight to ten weeks for anything in the comfortable category if you want reasonable prices. Hotels near Kota Tua and Glodok fill up fastest. In 2026, several new serviced apartment options in the Kota Tua area have opened, giving slightly more availability than in previous years.

Is it safe to visit Glodok during Imlek with young children?

Generally yes, but with a few considerations. Firecrackers are loud and unpredictable — cover young children’s ears on Imlek night. Crowds in the narrowest alleys of Petak Sembilan market can be intense. The lantern-focused Cap Go Meh events are significantly more family-friendly and less overwhelming than Imlek eve itself.

📷 Featured image by Eyestetix Studio on Unsplash.