Trinket Vendors in Glodok Reap Fortunes Ahead of Lunar New Year
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Ahead of the 2026 Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, the Glodok Chinatown district in West Jakarta has become a major draw for members of the Chinese-Indonesian community shopping for items to display at home when the holiday arrives. A number of seasonal vendors selling Lunar New Year trinkets are also cashing in on the blessings of the Year of the Fire Horse celebrations.
One such vendor, Rahman, said he can pocket up to hundreds of thousands of rupiah per day from selling lanterns, table decorations such as cat figurines, red envelopes (angpao), and wall decorations featuring the zodiac animal of the year — the horse. A pack of six red envelopes sells for Rp 10,000 to Rp 45,000, depending on the design and material.
A visitor browses Lunar New Year trinkets in the Pancoran Glodok Chinatown area of West Jakarta on Sunday (15/2/2026). ANTARA/Sinta Ambar
Meanwhile, paper lanterns without batteries sell for around Rp 20,000 to Rp 35,000, depending on the material and size. Mini cat figurines with waving paws are priced at Rp 45,000. Medium-sized hanging lanterns complete with battery-powered lights sell for Rp 50,000, while acrylic lanterns with long wrappable cables are priced from Rp 150,000 to Rp 250,000.
Another vendor, identified only as S, said the temporary market, which opened in early January and runs through 16 February, has helped support the family’s finances. She said that in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year, she can earn nearly one million rupiah per day.
She sells a variety of attractive Lunar New Year decorations including red envelopes, lanterns, and door ornaments.
Standard red and gold red envelopes with Chinese characters sell from Rp 15,000 for a pack of six, while special edition horse zodiac envelopes are priced higher at Rp 10,000 each. Door decorations with red hanging tassels start from Rp 15,000 for basic designs, up to Rp 65,000 for designs with ceramic accessories.
One tip when shopping in the area is to keep your wallet, phone, and other valuables secure, as the district gets quite crowded ahead of the Lunar New Year. And don’t forget to bargain when buying trinkets, as you may get a more competitive price.
If heading to Glodok, it is advisable to use public transportation such as Transjakarta, taxis, or ride-hailing motorcycles, as the streets are very congested and parking is difficult to find in the area.
As is known, the government has designated Tuesday, 17 February 2026, as a collective leave day to coincide with Lunar New Year 2577 Kongzili. The decision is set out in a Joint Ministerial Decree by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, the Minister of Religious Affairs, the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, and the Minister of Manpower.