Where to celebrate Chap Goh Mei (Chinese Valentine’s Day) in Malaysia

Do you have your oranges and phone number ready? Chap Goh Mei marks the end of the Chinese New Year, and in Malaysia, it is also a time for singles to find their match. However, there is far more to the Lantern Festival than oranges and tang yuan. If you’re looking to learn more and find out where you can celebrate in Malaysia, read on to find out more.

What is Chap Goh Mei?

Chap Goh Mei is also known as the Lantern Festival in China. It is celebrated on the last day and 15th day of Chinese New Year. Hence, its name means ’15th night’ in Hokkien.  During this time, lanterns with elaborate designs are displayed at temples and traditional sites. Tangyuan is also eaten to symbolise harmony, happiness, and luck in the coming new year.

There are numerous origins of the Lantern Festival dating back 2,000 years. One theory believes that Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty adopted the custom of lantern lighting from Buddhist monks. Another is that the festival marked the end of the cold winter, when the weather was bearable enough for people to walk outside at night with man-made light.

Using mandarin oranges to find love

In Malaysia and Singapore, people gather at iconic river sites for the annual Chap Goh Mei matchmaking custom. Single women will write their phone numbers on mandarin oranges and toss them into the river. On the other end, single men will collect the oranges in hopes of meeting a suitable match.

It is common to find crowds of single people participating in this ‘traditional Tinder’ in Malaysia at riverside locations like Espalanade and Taman Jaya. Today, the customs have also been updated to include Instagram or WeChat handles. This is why the festival is also known as ‘Chinese Valentine’s Day’.

We’ve gathered a list of locations where these festivities will be held in Malaysia. From Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya to Melaka and Penang, experience the auspicious end to the Lunar New Year at these iconic locations.

Where to celebrate Chap Goh Mei in Malaysia

(Hero and feature image credit: Instagram/ahanthaiseafood)

1 /8

Taman Tasik Jaya offers a quieter, community-oriented Chap Goh Mei experience that contrasts with the bustle of city centres. As night falls, the lakeside setting becomes a reflective space for families and couples, with lanterns illuminating walking paths and the water’s edge. For PJ people this is the go-to place to throw and collect oranges.

Operating hours: 2PM – 7:30PM

Image credit: Instagram/kosawoo

2 /8

Thean Hou Temple stands as one of the most visually striking Chap Goh Mei destinations in Malaysia. Perched atop a hill, the temple is adorned with cascading rows of red lanterns that symbolise renewal, prosperity, and harmony. On Chap Goh Mei, devotees and visitors alike gather to offer prayers, light incense, and seek blessings for the year ahead.

Operating hours: 8AM – 8PM

Image credit: Instagram/yuniqueyuni

3 /8

Petaling Street transforms into a dense corridor of colour, sound, and movement during Chap Goh Mei. Festive lights, decorative arches, and cultural performances reinforce its status as Kuala Lumpur’s historic Chinese enclave. The evening is marked by an energetic mix of food stalls, traditional snacks, and crowds soaking in the final moments of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Operating hours: 10 AM – 10 PM

Image credit: Instagram/dv070191

4 /8

Penang’s Esplanade provides a coastal Chap Goh Mei, where cultural rituals unfold against the backdrop of the sea. The open field often hosts performances, ceremonial activities, and gatherings that draw families from across the island. The act of tossing mandarin oranges into the water takes on particular symbolism here, merging traditional beliefs with the maritime identity of George Town.

Image credit: Instagram/peeka.hyboo

5 /8

The Melaka River offers one of the most romantic Chap Goh Mei settings in Malaysia. As lanterns reflect off the water and heritage buildings glow softly along the riverbanks, the area becomes a focal point for couples participating in age-old matchmaking customs. River cruises during the evening heighten the sense of occasion, blending historical scenery with festive symbolism.

Operating hours: 9AM – 11PM

Image credit: Instagram/swissgardenhotelmelaka

6 /8

A stroll through George Town’s heritage streets on Chap Goh Mei will tell a story of Penang’s Chinese history and culture. Clan houses, temples, and shophouses are often illuminated with lanterns, while traditional music and ceremonial practices punctuate the evening. The walk allows visitors to experience Chap Goh Mei as a living tradition embedded within UNESCO-listed urban heritage.

Operating hours: 9AM – 5PM

Image credit: Instagram/loyi_jwy

7 /8

Jonker Street comes alive on Chap Goh Mei with a festive intensity that reflects Melaka’s multicultural past. The narrow street is lined with lanterns, cultural displays, and bustling night markets, drawing large crowds eager to savour the final night of Lunar New Year celebrations. The combination of heritage architecture and communal festivity makes Jonker Street a compelling destination for locals and tourists.

Image credit: Instagram/abdrahmanabas

8 /8

Sam Poh Tong offers a serene and spiritually grounded Chap Goh Mei experience. As a cave temple set against limestone hills, it provides a contemplative environment for prayer, reflection, and gratitude. On the fifteenth night, devotees gather to light incense and offer thanks for the past year, marking the festival’s conclusion with solemnity rather than spectacle.

Operating hours: 8AM – 2PM

Image credit: Instagram/valentin_agr