Welcome to the Zurich Chinatown Navigator - Year of the Horse edition.
The new year of the fire horse is officially starting on 17 February and we can’t wait. In this issue, we are sharing with you everything to do with Chinese New Year - from special dinners, events, astrology and horse sightings in the city.
With that in mind: Be bold, prioritize health and stay flexible!
— Sandra, Zurich Chinatown
Spotlight
2026 is a Double Yang Fire year—the Fire Horse returns for the first time in 60 years.
This energy brings intensity, visibility, and relational shifts. But Double Yang Fire doesn't affect everyone equally. Your personal element—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water—determines whether you experience momentum or overload, recognition or burnout.
On 18 February, Clay and Tao holds a two-hour seminar at their pottery studio in Oerlikon to offer practical guidance. Learn how 2026's fire interacts with your core element, and receive tools to navigate the year.
Location: Tramstrasse 53, Zurich
Date: 18 February 2026, 18:30—20:30
Price: CHF 55 (max 8 people)
On the Map: Mandarin Oriental Savoy Zurich
New Year’s Dessert at Mandarin Oriental’s Shanghai Pop-up
From 17 February, Mandarin Oriental Savoy Zurich marks its first Lunar New Year celebration in the city. The programme combines a culinary pop-up with the world premiere exhibition of Swiss light artist Gerry Hofstetter’s works from the Great Wall of China.
The exhibition shows photographs from his October 2025 light installation and runs throughout the hotel until 25 May 2026, including his zodiac series featuring the Fire Horse for 2026.
From 26 February to 1 March, Chef Park Xing from Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai presents traditional Lunar New Year cuisine. The celebrations start on 17 February with the “Red Stallion” cocktail (rum, goji berries, chilli, Szechuan pepper), served with personalised zodiac insights.
The programme is open to both hotel guests and the public.
Location: Paradeplatz, 8001 Zurich
Lunar New Year Program: 17 February—1 March 2026
Hofstetter Exhibition: 25 February—25 May 2026
What's on: Year of the Horse
Chinese New Year at Swiss Casino Zurich, Celebration
20—21 February 2026, 20:00, Swiss Casino Zurich
Dragon dance, acrobatics, live music, and karaoke. Free fingerfood, bubble tea, and tea. Optional Asian dinner available from 18:00. Organized by Asianet Community.
→ Details
Chinese New Year at Slurp, One-Day Special
22 February 2026, 11:00—14:00, Slurp, Zurich
Bao's by Giang's Kitchen and sweet surprise by Garçoa Chocolate. Reserve: [email protected]
→ Instagram
Between Sunset and Many Moons, Community Gathering
22 February 2026, 14:00—22:00, Zentralwäscherei, Neue Hard 12, Zurich
Lunar New Year meets Ramadan. Communal meal, iftar at sunset (ca. 18:00), karaoke, film screenings, prayer room. Collaboration between Zentralwäscherei and Les Complices. CHF 15/20/30.
→ Instagram
LUNAR HOT POT - a shared table by An Chay X COIN COIN
Multiple dates, Coincoin, Zurich
Choose your pots and sides - or take it all.
→ Tickets
→ Instagram
Year of the Horse merch: Now available
The Zurich Tang horse 苏黎世唐马 is now available in the shop. Inspired by Tang dynasty, rendered in Mandarin Orange for 2026's fire element.
A few people asked about the design—it references China's golden age, when Xi'an was a global city long before the term existed. Confidence, prosperity, international exchange along the Silk Road.
Your Year of the Horse sightings
Two weeks ago, we asked: Where are you finding horses in Zurich? The responses came in. Some of you sent photos. Others pointed us in the right direction:
Escher-Wyss-Platz: Yves Netzhammer's steel sculpture "Der ungezähmte Horizont" on the roof. Black horse, hydraulics, livestream. Installed 2025 as part of Zurich's Art and Construction project.
Manessebrunnen: Granite, 1929. Designed by Johann Rigendinger (1893-1945) and Arnold Hünerwadel (1877-1945).
Freitag flagship: Horse in the window display.
Gaul: The institution for summertime burgers. Horse-themed branding not only in the year of the horse.
Transhelvetica: Released their Year of the Horse edition. Cover features... a donkey.
Thanks for sharing your sightings. We'll keep looking.
More than horses…