Chinese New Year Tour in Toronto
Take a tour with Taste of the World and discover Toronto's Chinatown
A walking tour through Toronto's second Chinatown geared at celebrating the lore, tradition and festivities of this, the Year of the Pig. Shirley Lum takes you there...
This February 18, 2007 marks the start of The Year of the Pig. My Asian friends tell me it's a year of working hard and playing hard, so what better way to ring it in than with one of Shirley Lum's all play and no-work (except walking and eating) tours of the city's second Chinatown?!
A Taste of the World offers its annual behind-the-scenes Asian Lunar New Year tours, daily from February 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, through to March 3, 4, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Shirley, the outfit's founder, guide, and foodie will lead small groups on cultural, historical and foodie's tours to celebrate.
Shirley's motto is a cherished quote borrowed from Marcel Proust: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes." It's her goal to get people who take her New Year's tour to see Chinatown in a whole new way, even if they live in the city and pass by the same shops and restaurants every day. "They'll never look, taste nor experience with all their senses the same way again," she says, "once they're fully submerged with the rich symbolism, superstitions, and rituals connected with this exciting festival to end all festivals."
The Asian Lunar New Year walking tours includes the following:
- Learning about Chinese and Vietnamese lore, legends and symbolism.
- Sampling Chinese and Taiwanese symbolic New Year snacks en route.
- Shopping for New Year's gifts and decorations, or ingredients to cook a New Year 's feast.
- Visiting Chinese/Taiwanese bakery for mouth-watering New Year pastries.
- Interpretation of the colours, customs, superstitions and traditions behind the festivities
- Savouring a hosted New Year Dim Sum feast.
- Enjoying personalized readings from the Chinese Horoscope Book for the Year of the Pig.
In 2007, A Taste of the World celebrates its 14th year of offering unique walks of Toronto's diverse neighbourhoods. "I enjoy opening the eyes of jaded lifelong residents, inquisitive newcomers and adventurous visitors while stuffing them with equal portions of food and facts along the tours," says Shirley.
Fees: Adult $39CDN Senior (65+)/Student $35.00CDN, Child $25CDN.
Contact Shirley Lum for more information and Gung Hey Fatt Choi to all! For a vicarious trip through Shirley's summertime tour, click here.
