The Empire State Building Lights Red to Celebrate Lunar New Year

The Empire State Building will shine its world-famous tower lights in red to celebrate Lunar New Year 2024 on Feb. 8.

Consul General Huang Ping flipped the ceremonial light switch and unveiled a Spring Festival Window Exhibition in the building’s iconic Fifth Avenue Lobby. After the ceremony, he toured the Observatory Experience – which was recently named the #1 attraction in the U.S. in Tripadvisor's 2023 Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” for the second consecutive year – and posed for photos on the building’s 86th Floor and 102nd Floor Observatories.

A dancer performs at the Lunar New Year lighting ceremony.

A traditional dancer performs at the Lunar New Year lighting ceremony.

Consul General Huang Ping and Madame Zhang Aiping tour the Empire State Building Observatory Experience.

Consul General Huang Ping lights the Empire State Building

Consul General Huang Ping and Madame Zhang Aiping on the 86th Floor Observatory.

Consul General Huang Ping and Madame Zhang Aiping on the 103rd Floor.

The Empire State Building lit up in red for Lunar New Year.

The building’s iconic Fifth Avenue Lobby windows feature a festive installation with artistic imagery and representations of this year’s animal – the dragon. Dragons symbolize strength, good luck, and wisdom.  The animal is depicted in an array of colors and art styles among diverse landscapes in a series of three scenes. 

Counsel General Huang Ping, Madame Zhang Aiping, and ESRT EVP, COO & CFO Christina Chiu unveil the Lunar New Year windows at ESB.

ESB's world-famous Fifth Avenue Windows.

Débutea, a local New York City Boba shop, will host a pop-up on the Empire State Building’s 86th Floor Observatory from 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. to sell special items for Observatory ticket holders on Feb. 8. 