![[b]Chinese New Year 2021 in the UK](https://static.rapido.com/newsbulletin/files/chinese-new-year-uk.jpg?v=1713433591
"[b]Chinese New Year 2021 in the UK")
In 2021, Chinese New Year falls on 12 February. It’s usually marked by big celebrations in the UK, including London’s free Chinese New Year parade across Chinatown and the West End. However, 2021 is likely going to see Chinese New Year events in the UK cancelled or transformed.
For the Chinese community in the UK, this can be a difficult moment. Especially since international travel is currently not recommended. So, how can you celebrate CNY 2021 with your Chinese community in the UK, or with your loved ones in China?
Enter the red envelope.
In China, special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, and the Lunar New Year, are marked by exchanging hong bao, or red envelopes. That literally means a red envelope with some RMB cash in it. The red colour of the envelope is believed to bring luck and ward off evil spirits.
But how does a cash gift help you in a lockdown situation where you can’t visit your loved ones or celebrate in person? Since 2014, the red envelope tradition has undergone a digital revolution. The popular Chinese messaging app WeChat added a virtual red packet feature. That means you can send the traditional monetary gifts to your WeChat contacts directly via the platform.
Sending the traditional gift to your Chinese community is a great way to mark Chinese New year 2021. But can you use the WeChat red envelope service in the UK?
Anyone anywhere can download the WeChat app and register. However, the features available to you will differ based on your location and the type of bank card you connect to the app. Unfortunately, the WeChat red packet feature is only available in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and South Africa.
However, although you won’t be able to send a WeChat red packet from the UK, you might be able to receive one.
If your WeChat account is connected to a Chinese bank card, then you have some luck. You can receive a WeChat red packet from your family abroad - make sure to let them know!
However, if you don’t have a Chinese bank card, this won’t work. You will still receive the red packet in your WeChat Wallet, but if you don’t connect a Chinese bank card to your WeChat account within 24 hours, the money will be returned to the sender.
That would be a sad ending to the story if it was the only way to send a digital gift. But it isn’t. Here are some great alternatives to WeChat’s red packet idea.
Yes, the tradition requires that you gift money. However, it doesn’t specify in what format the money should be. So, why not make digital gift cards this year’s perfect Chinese New Year gift? There are options for all situations, including:
- Digital gift cards for your Chinese community within the UK
Want to send a red envelope gift to your Chinese friends, family or colleagues within the UK? Pick from our wide selection of digital prepaid codes. We have something to please anybody - from
gaming and
entertainment fans, to
shopping pros and
passionate travellers. Each gift card has several value options - make sure you pick a value that ends in an even number, as the Chinese tradition dictates.
Do you want to pay with your Chinese bank card from the UK? That’s possible! On mobiletopup.co.uk, China Union Pay is an accepted payment method.
- Digital gifts for your Chinese community in China
Instead of sending cash this Lunar New Year, you can gift digital value to your loved ones in China - for example, by topping up their prepaid phones for them. What better way to say you care than the gift of time to be spent connecting with each other?
You can buy mobile top-up for
China Telecom,
China Unicom or
China Mobile from anywhere in the world. The recipient will get it instantly, directly on their phone.
All our gift cards are sent instantly via email as digital codes. That means you can order them last-minute.
Want an extra personal touch? If you do have a day or two extra, you can print out the digital code you’ll receive, place it in a red envelope and send it to your Chinese loved ones in the UK via regular mail.
Ready? Happy Chinese New Year!
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