Chap Goh Meh: when Penang throws mandarins into the sea

Formally, the festival lasts fifteen days, but the real finale comes on the last night. That is when the city heads to the water with baskets of mandarins and paper lanterns.

Chap Goh Meh is celebrated once a year, and the date shifts each time along with the lunar calendar.

The next date is almost a year away, so accommodation in Georgetown gets booked well in advance.

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What is Chap Goh Meh

💡 In short:

• Chap Goh Meh closes the fifteen-day celebration of Chinese New Year.
• In 2026, the festival took place on March 3, starting at 5:00 PM (as of 09/2026, announcement from the Penang tourism board).
• Bring mandarins, get to the water before sunset, and stay for the evening ceremony.
• Dates and location: the fifteenth night of the New Year, the Esplanade in Georgetown.

The name comes from the Hokkien language and means "fifteenth night." That is what the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations is called in Malaysia and Singapore. In mainland China, the same day is known as the Lantern Festival.

For Penang, Chap Goh Meh means more than just the end of the New Year holidays. Here it is called the Chinese Valentine's Day. The day is not a public holiday (according to Publicholidays.com.my, 09/2026), and offices and shops stay open. The festival program still draws thousands of people to the waterfront.

It is celebrated not only on the island. Chinese communities in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia also close out the New Year on this night. But the tradition that brings people to Penang is found almost nowhere else.

When the festival takes place

The date of Chap Goh Meh is tied to the fifteenth night of the New Year according to the Chinese calendar, so the exact day changes every year. In 2026, the ceremony took place on March 3, and the program at the Esplanade started at 5:00 PM (as of 09/2026, announcement of the Penang celebration). We verified the date and start time on 09/15/2026 using a report from New Straits Times.

The mandarin ceremony takes place after sunset, and the main events happen in the evening. You do not need the whole day. Arrive by 7:00 PM if you want to get a spot right by the parapet (according to the Visit Penang guide, 09/2026).

Mandarins in the sea and the search for fate

Unmarried women throw mandarins into the sea and ask fate for a good husband. A phone number is sometimes written on the peel, so the tradition also works as old-fashioned dating. For Penang, this is a special custom that has survived almost nowhere else.

Today, couples and families take part in the ceremony. For them, it is more about fun than serious fortune-telling. Tourists also throw mandarins, and there are no restrictions for visitors.

If you want to take part, bring your own mandarins and get to the water early. It is easier to have your fruit on hand when the ceremony begins.

The Esplanade and the Georgetown waterfront

The main festival venue is the Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama) on the Georgetown waterfront. Nearby stands Fort Cornwallis, a historic fortress right by the shore.

Street food stalls operate along the water, and cafes and restaurants in the area offer special menus for these evenings (according to the Visit Penang guide). In the evening, the waterfront is lit up, and a walk along it becomes part of the festival.

© Pangalau · CC BY-SAPhoto: Pangalau, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

You can walk to the Esplanade from the historic center of Georgetown. If you want to see the city that same evening, book tours on GetYourGuide: a local guide will show you lanes and streets that are easy to miss on your own.

Lanterns, temples, and the evening city

Lanterns complete the festive decorations. For Chinese New Year, Penang is decorated with garlands, and large light installations are set up at the Kek Lok Si temple. By the fifteenth night, the city is already glowing, and an evening walk through Georgetown becomes part of the program itself.

© HundenvonPenang · CC BY-SAPhoto: HundenvonPenang, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Another stop for the evening is the Goddess of Mercy Temple (Kuan Yin Teng) on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. Prayer ceremonies with candles and incense take place there (according to the Penang guide, 09/2026). Go there before heading to the waterfront: the temple fills with people in the evening.

How to get there and what to keep in mind

Penang is located in northwestern Malaysia. The most convenient option is to fly into Penang International Airport (PEN), then take a taxi or bus to Georgetown.

Look for accommodation in Georgetown itself or near the waterfront so you can walk to the Esplanade. Rooms for the festival dates get booked well in advance.

The catch: the festival lasts one evening, so the trip should be planned specifically around the fifteenth night.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

What is Chap Goh Meh?

It is the last, fifteenth night of Chinese New Year, closing the fifteen-day festival. In Penang, it is celebrated on the Esplanade waterfront, and the main event is throwing mandarins into the sea. The festival is called the Chinese Valentine's Day.

When does the festival take place and how much does admission cost?

The date shifts every year along with the lunar calendar. Admission is free, no tickets are needed, and there is no charge for taking part in the ceremony.

Can tourists throw mandarins?

Yes. Today, tourists, couples, and families take part in the ceremony, and for them it is more about fun than fortune-telling. There are no restrictions for visitors.

Where exactly does the celebration take place in Penang?

The main venue is the Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama) on the Georgetown waterfront, next to Fort Cornwallis. Part of the program takes place in the city's temples, such as the Goddess of Mercy Temple (Kuan Yin Teng).

What else is worth seeing in Georgetown during these days?

The historic quarter, street art, and temples. In the evening, the city is lit up, and street food stalls operate along the waterfront. Georgetown is also easy to explore after the ceremony, when the crowd at the Esplanade disperses.

In short: what to book

If you are going to Penang for Chap Goh Meh, look for accommodation in Georgetown: you can walk to the Esplanade, and after the ceremony you will not need to find transportation. Couples often choose a hotel by the waterfront, while families pick areas with markets and street food. For available rooms on the festival dates, check Trip.com.