/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Fiery Flames, Live Music, And Lion Dances, Oh My: Year of the Dragon Roars Onto The Strip

January 18, 2012 at 3:03 PM | by | Comments (3)

The botanical displays of Bellagio and Palazzo are known for being picture perfect, but both hotels have really outdone themselves for the Year of the Dragon. This Chinese New Year, the Palazzo doesn't just feature a 128-foot, 8,000-pound dragon. It features a 128-foot, 8,000-pound fire-breathing dragon that took more than a year to make.

See the mythical creature (pictured above) come to life (shown below) every day at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. from January 23 to February 5.

When you do stop by, Palazzo says it's lucky to walk around the dragon three times, clockwise. Even more so (for them) if something from one of the nearby shops catches your eye.

Down the Strip at Bellagio, two 25-foot dragons spiral around each other while blowing off a bit of steam, literally. Nearby, guests will find four smaller, 15-foot dragons (because why stop at one when you can have six?) as well as a pond featuring more than 200 Koi. Oh, and 22,000 flowers, too. We'd hate to get that florist bill.

The best feature, though, may be the addition of live entertainment to Bellagio's Conservatory for the first time ever. The Beijing Trio (seen below) will perform daily from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Experience it all through March 4.

Here's how else you can mark the Year of the Dragon in Las Vegas:

Dining

The Cosmopolitan
China Poblana offering new cocktails ($13) and menu items ($10.88-$53.88) January 23-February 6
Special dishes to include Tea Eggs & Caviar (marinated quail eggs) and our favorite name for a dessert ever -- Giggling Buddha Taking a Bath, strawberry gelée, lychee foam and guanabana sorbet

ARIA
Blossom will offer a Dim Sum lunch January 20-February 1
Lemongrass will serve a full menu from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. January 20-February 1

Luxor
Rice and Company featuring four-course prix fixe menu ($65) to feature choice of Egg Drop Soup, Fresh Orange Peel Chicken, Pan-Fried Pot Stickers, and more from January 23-February 9
Specialty "Dragon Roll" made of eel, sliced cucumber, avocado and caviar also will be available

Palazzo
Zine Noodles serving special dishes including Live Lobster with golden garlic and spicy salt and Firecracker Manila Clams now through Feb. 29

Bellagio
Jasmine and Noodles will feature a Dim Sum lunch January 21-29

MGM Grand
Pearl to serve Dim Sum lunch January 20-30
Grand Wok to offer specialty items January 20-February 4
Shibuya to feature special dishes January 20-27

The Mirage
Fin to serve special dishes January 19-30

Monte Carlo
Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar to feature special $29 pre-fixe menu for lunch and dinner

Entertainment
Mandopop star Wakin Chau at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace January 28 & 29
Tickets range from $48 to $188 can can be purchased via Ticketmaster

FANTASY STARS in concert featuring Daniel Chan, Aska Yang, Alec Su and Wilber Pan at MGM Grand Garden Arena Jan. 28
Tickets range from $115 to $178 via Ticketmaster
$115.00 + $13.45 Handling Fee, $88 + Handling Fee, $128 + Handling Fee, $178 + Handling Fee

Lion, Dragon and Fan Dances
January 23: Venetian/Palazzo (1 p.m.), M Resort (6 p.m.)
January 24: Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian (1 p.m.), Aria (1 p.m.), Crystals at CityCenter (1:30 p.m.), The Mirage (4 p.m.)
January 25: The Shoppes at the Palazzo (1 p.m.), MGM Grand (1 p.m.), Bellagio (6:30 p.m.)
January 27: Harrah's (5 p.m.), Imperial Palace (6:15 p.m.), Flamingo (7 p.m.) Rio (10 p.m.)
January 28: Planet Hollywood (Noon), Paris (1 p.m.), Bally's (2 p.m.), Caesars Palace (5 p.m.)
February 1: Gold Coast (7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.)

*All lion dances will begin in the main lobby or porte cochere unless otherwise noted, Gold Coast's will take place in the casino

**If someone throws cabbage at you, it's a sign of good luck, not something to breathe fire over

Comments (3)

Post a Comment

The Hen

I was @ Palazzo yesterday and there is a random hen placed in one of the planters. Good luck finding him.

It's a rooster!

"Rooster placed to the [redacted] of the dragon to watch and protect the dragon" -- Palazzo

I don't get

I don't get Chinese culture. Not sure how a rooster/hen/cock is protecting a dude that shoots fire. Maybe that's just me.

Join the conversation!

Not a member? .