It’s hard not to think of Binondo when it comes to Lunar New Year celebrations. For more than 400 years, it has been a melting pot of different cultures, making it a unique destination for both foreign and local tourists.
Located in Manila City, Binondo has its own distinct vibe, with its ancient architecture, dragon-hugged light posts, and vibrant stores adding to its charm. It is renowned for its array of food establishments, offering both traditional and modern Chinese cuisine—making it a true food haven for anyone craving authentic oriental dishes.
If you’re planning to spend Lunar New Year or enjoy a relaxing weekend in Binondo, here are some activities and experiences you might want to include in your bucket list for the ultimate Chinatown experience.
Learn the history of Binondo
While Binondo is famous worldwide for being the oldest Chinatown, not many people fully know how it started. Beyond strolling its red walkways, the best place to learn more about Binondo’s history is at the Chinatown Museum.
Located inside Lucky Chinatown Mall, the museum offers a time-travel experience, highlighting the district’s key social, cultural, economic, political, and religious milestones through its displays. Recognized as both a heritage and community space, Chinatown Museum features over 18 galleries.
One of Style Weekend’s favorite exhibits is its spotlight on Filipino crafts and ancient jewelry. Visitors shouldn’t miss its Escolta gallery, which highlights the street’s history as a premier commercial and business district in Old Manila.
Visitors will definitely enjoy striking a pose in its tranvía, a mode of mass transportation used in the 1880s, and discovering the stories behind the names of Binondo’s streets and other locations in Manila City.
Chinatown Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Regular tickets are priced at P150.
Explore streets in traditional costumes
Located in the heart of Binondo, Ramada Manila Central aims to provide visitors and travelers with an unparalleled guest experience. To achieve this, the hotel established the Manila Chinatown Information Center, designed to offer comprehensive guides to Binondo, whether for food or travel.
In partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Arts of Manila and Nilad Community, the Manila Chinatown Information Center introduces #TravelandWearDifferent—a unique experience featuring fashion from the 1600s and 1800s.
The Era Costume is inspired by the Hanbok rental concept from Hanboknam Gyeongbokgung in Korea. The Era Costume offers two varieties: a 1600s Chinese wardrobe and an 1800s Filipino wardrobe, both come in adult and kid sizes for both females and males. Tourists and travelers can book Era Costumes through the hotel’s front desk or social media pages. It’s perfect for photoshoots or if you simply want to travel back in time as you roam the streets of Binondo in this costume.
This Lunar New Year, Ramada is offering a 50 percent discount on Era Costumes, allowing travelers and visitors to enjoy the celebration even more. Rental fee starts as low as P699 for two hours. The costumes come with inner clothes and basic accessories that people can take home. After the costume experience, visitors can relax and enjoy a complimentary refreshment at Mento, Ramada’s skydeck restaurant.
Feast on delicious Chinoy eats
A trip to Binondo is never complete without indulging in good food. From classic Chinese comfort dishes to exotic specialties, there’s something for every craving. There’s Cafe Mezzanine known for its steamy plate pork xiao long bao. Roasted duck mami is a must-try at Wai Ying Fast Food. While Shanghai Fried Siopao is a go-to for many wanting a serving of fluffy steamed buns.
Among the new eats and sips we spotted on the streets are the sugar cane juice and ube egg tarts. There are many sugar cane juice stalls in Binondo, which are priced from P80 to P100 depending on the size. It has the right balance of sweetness, making it a refreshing drink while exploring the streets. The ube egg tart (P50 per piece) is available at Eng Bee Tin flagship store. The purple yam adds a velvety touch to its creamy custard filling.
One of the most-visited restaurants in Binondo is To Ho Panciteria Antigua, located along Tomas Pinpin Street. Arguably the oldest restaurant in the Philippines, it has been serving diners since 1888. Must-try are its customer-favorites like pork asado, lechon, and pancit canton. During our visit, we also enjoyed their crab omelet and lumpiang shanghai, both addictively delicious!
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