Countdown to 2012 – New Year’s Eve Parties, Dinners and Performances in Guangzhou

Photo: thepartyproducts

2011 is drawing to a close, and Guangzhou-ers are revving up to celebrate the New Year. Count down to 2012 in one of the city’s bars or restaurants, or if it better suits you, spend an evening at a classical performance. Whether you’re looking for an upbeat party or a chilled-out, more genteel way to mark the passing of 2011, Guangzhou has something to offer you this New Year’s Eve.

Parties

New Year's Eve falls on a Saturday this year, which will likely make the parties in Guangzhou's clubs and bars that much more intense. Here are the best:

1) Cabaret New Year's Eve at Duo Club
This New Year’s Eve, its all about the champagne at Duo Club! The popular nightlife venue is ringing in the New Year with special prices on bottles of champagne all night long, not to mention a free champagne toast at midnight. Duo Club will no doubt be packed with partiers this New Year’s Eve, so if you've got a large group, be sure to reserve a table in advance.

Add: 16 Jianshe Liu Lu, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
地址: 广东省广州市越秀区建设六马路
Tel: 137 1077 0232 (English) 134 2402 1170 (Chinese)
Price: 100 RMB (door)
Website: www.duo-club.com

2) Class it up at Churchill Bar
If you're looking to spend your New Year's Eve in more upscale surroundings, head over to the Churchill Bar at the Ritz-Carlton. The bar’s plush and gilt décor, and fancy (albeit expensive) drinks are the perfect way bid adieu to 2011 and toast to a prosperous 2012. Expect "tasteful" music and dressed-up fellow revelers.

When: Dec. 31st, 21:00
Add: 3 Xing’an Lu, Zhujiang New City, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市天河区珠江新城兴安路3号
Tel: 203 813 6688

3) Countdown at Mar-Tea-Ni Lounge Bar
Also throwing a "super-classy" New Year’s Eve countdown part is the Mar-Tea-Ni lounge bar at the French-owned Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich (luxury hotel) near CITIC Plaza. Mar-Tea-Ni’s countdown party will feature live music and special seasonal cocktails for sipping. If your looking for nearby dinning options, consider a pre-countdown dinner at one of the hotel’s three restaurants: "Robata Grill & Bar" (steakhouse and Japanese izakaya), "Le Chinois" (Cantonese), or "8 Faubourg" (Parisian).

When: Dec. 31st, 21:00
Add: 988 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, near Tianhe Bei Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址: 广州市天河区广州大道中988号
Tel: 020 3883 8888

Dinning

While fancy meals are a dime a dozen for some Guangzhou expats, this is New Year’s Eve we’re talking about – everyone should be dining like royalty! If you’re looking to pull out all the stops this year, consider stopping by one of these classy NYE buffets:

1) Seafood buffet at Senses
Senses at the Hilton Baiyun Guangzhou is serving a sumptuous seafood dinner buffet that will surely have you feeling stuffed all the way into 2012. Bring a date, as couples receive free sparkling wine with their dinner.

Add: 1/F, Hilton Guangzhou Baiyun, 515-517 Yuncheng Dong Lu, Baiyun District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市白云区云城东路515-517号
Tel: 020 6660 0666 ext 6205
Price: 438 RMB per person, plus 15%

2) Barbecue buffet at Noble Cafe
Not to be outdone, Noble Cafe is holding a barbecue dinner this Near Year’s Eve. Lobster, various fish, clams and steak (known to some as "surf ‘n turf") will be cooking on the barbecue outside. Indoors, a buffet of salads, sides and cold cuts will round out this delicious end-of-the-year feast. A countdown party will come later in the night. Early reservations recommended.

Add: 5F, International Finance Place, 8 Huaxia Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市天河区珠江新城华夏路8号5楼
Tel: 020 3833 6168
Prices: 468 RMB per person, plus 10%

Performances

To wind down from the Christmas buzz, why not spend a night or two coaxing in 2012 at the Guangzhou Opera House?

1) Montreal Youth Symphony Orchestra
To commemorate its 35th season and its 25th season with artistic director Louis Lavigueur, the Montreal Youth Symphony Orchestra will play a pre-New Year’s concert at the Guangzhou Opera House on December 26th. They will play selections from composers including Strauss, Puccini, Bizet and Dvorak.

When: Dec. 26th, 20:00
Add: Guangzhou Opera House, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市天河区珠江新城江西路1号 广州大剧院歌剧厅
Tel: 020 3829 2888
Price: 180, 280, 480, 680, 880, 1280 RMB
Website: http://gzdjy.org

2) Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra
Lead by Lawrence Foster, one of the world’s best conductors, the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra, will perform for the first time at the Guangzhou Opera House on December 29th. As part of the concert, Soprano Valentina Corradetti and tenor Ivan Magri will perform selections from Carmen, La Traviata and Turandot.

When: Dec. 29th, 20:00
Add: Guangzhou Opera House, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市天河区珠江新城江西路1号 广州大剧院歌剧厅
Tel: 020 3829 2888
Price:  180, 280, 480, 680, 880, 1280, 1680
Website: http://gzdjy.org

3) London Philharmonic Orchestra (Including a New Year’s Eve performance)
Since its founding in 1932, the London Philharmonic Orchestra has been highly-regarded as one of the finest orchestras in the world. The three performances at the Guangzhou Opera House on December 30th and 31st are sure to be no exception. Conductor Yan Pascal Tortellier leads the London Philharmonic Orchestra and pianist Xu Hong in celebrating the New Year with works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Beethoven.

When: Dec. 30th, 20:00; Dec. 31st, 19:30 and 22:15
Add: Guangzhou Opera House, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市天河区珠江新城江西路1号 广州大剧院歌剧厅
Tel: 020 3829 2888
Price: 180, 380, 580, 880, 1280, 1880, 2280, 2880
Website: http://gzdjy.org

4) Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra
Finally, starting of the New Year with a pair of performances is Hungary’s second oldest symphony orchestra. Since assuming the post of director and conductor in 2007, András Keller, a highly acclaimed violinist, has brought significant changes to the orchestra, and it’s now better sounding than ever.

When: Jan. 1st, 20:00, Jan. 2nd 20:00
Add: Guangzhou Opera House, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市天河区珠江新城江西路1号 广州大剧院歌剧厅
Tel: 020 3829 2888
Prices 180, 280, 480, 680, 880, 1280, 1880
Website: http://gzdjy.org
 

Related links
Most Wonderful Time: Celebrating the Season in Guangzhou
Hotel Restaurants: Raising the Bar in Guangzhou’s Dining Scene
Guangzhou Bars Offer More Than Just Booze