Manila celebrates Lunar New Year &#8211; World&#8217;s oldest Chinatown welcomes Year of the Fire Horse with dazzling fireworks

Article By Viory

Joy and merriment filled the oldest Chinatown in the world, as thousands gathered at the iconic Binondo Bridge in Manila on Tuesday night to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with a stunning fireworks and drones show.

Footage shows the Chinatown transforming into a churning sea of red and gold, with dazzling lights, intricate Chinese lanterns and the rhythmic pulse of lion dances. As the clock struck midnight, the sky over Pasig River lit up with a thunderous fireworks display.

“It’s fun here as a matter of fact, yearly, my friends and I celebrate Chinese New Year here in Binondo,” content creator Jane Mabulay said. “We always go back here because of the delicious Chinese food and, of course, because of the fireworks display.”

The highlight of the evening featured a drone formation of the Philippine and Chinese flags merging into a symbolic handshake in the shape of a heart, drawing cheers from the audience.

The celebration underscored a deep cultural bond despite geopolitical tensions between the two nations, as attendees expressed a collective wish for peace.

“[I] hope the Philippines and China will resolve their differences and stop fighting,” said Neil Tarabio, a local.

The South China Sea remains a thorn in Filipino-Chinese relations as Beijing claims nearly the entire region, including territories the Philippines also asserts sovereignty over. The Philippines has had frequent run-ins with China’s maritime fleet.

Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture. This year, the 15-day celebration falls from February 17 to March 3.

Article By Viory