Glodok is crowded ahead of Chinese New Year 2026, traders of trinkets flooded with buyers

JAKARTA - Ahead of the 2026 Chinese New Year, the Glodok Chinatown area, West Jakarta, is again crowded with residents who are hunting for celebration needs.

A row of shops and seasonal stalls are crowded with people, especially Chinese descendants, who want to prepare decorations and prayer equipment to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse.

Seasonal traders also get blessings. Rahman, one of the sellers of Imlek souvenirs, admitted that he could earn hundreds of thousands of rupiah per day from selling lanterns, cat-shaped table decorations, angpao, to wall stickers featuring the horse zodiac.

For angpao, one pack containing six sheets is sold at prices ranging from Rp. 10,000 to Rp. 45,000, depending on the design and material. Meanwhile, paper lanterns without batteries are priced at around Rp. 20,000 to Rp. 35,000 depending on the size and quality of the material.

Mini cat decorations with movable hands are sold for Rp. 45,000. Meanwhile, the hanging lantern of medium size complete with lights and batteries is marketed for Rp. 50,000. For acrylic lanterns with long cables that can be wrapped, the price ranges from Rp. 150,000 to Rp. 250,000.

Another trader, S, said that the non-permanent market, which started operating from the beginning of January to 16 February, also helped his family's economy. According to him, ahead of Chinese New Year, his daily income could be close to Rp. 1 million.

"Yes, almost (a million)," he said.

He sells various Chinese New Year ornaments such as angpao, lanterns, and door decorations. Gold red angpao with Mandarin characters is sold starting at Rp. 15,000 per pack of six. Meanwhile, the special edition of the horse shio is priced at Rp. 10,000 per sheet. For door decorations with red strings, prices are offered starting at Rp. 15,000 to Rp. 65,000 for models with additional ceramic ornaments.

As the number of visitors increases, buyers are urged to be more vigilant in guarding belongings such as wallets and mobile phones because the area is often crowded with visitors ahead of Chinese New Year. Visitors are also advised to bargain for the best deal.

For access to Glodok, the public is encouraged to use public transportation such as Transjakarta, taxis, or online motorbikes, given the traffic density and limited parking space around the location.

For information, the government has set Tuesday, February 17, 2026 as a public holiday in the context of the Chinese New Year 2577 Kongzili. The determination is contained in the Joint Decree (SKB) of four related ministers.