The LEGO® Group revealed the 2023 Chinese New Year sets at the 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) early this morning. Similarly, the event brought news of this years Chinese New Year sets a year ago. Additionally, they also provided a Monkie Kid sneak peek the coming year. In total, we get images of five new sets today, one Duplo, one Monkie Kid, and three Chinese New Year kits. This is an increase in the number of kits from previous years. Typically, we see two new Chinese New Years sets each year. We don’t know piece counts or prices yet, but that info will probably come soon.
NOTE: This article was updated after publication to include prices and piece counts.
Duplo Town Learn About Chinese Culture (10411)
- THEME: Duplo
- COST: $89.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 124
- FIGURINES: 3
- RELEASE DATE: January 1, 2023
LEGO® DUPLO® Town Learn About Chinese Culture introduces curious toddlers to the traditional Chinese culture. Parents can guide the little learners through fascinating aspects of Chinese traditions, from food to music, games to traditional dress. Kids can meet their hosts over a cup of tea and a moon cake in the café or explore cultural traditions in the activity center and temple. They can also simply play with the family under the shade of the blossom tree.
LEGO® Group Press Release
Monkey King Ultra Mech (80045)
- THEME: Monkie Kid
- COST: $219.99 CAD ($159.99 USD)
- BRICK COUNT: 1705
- MINIFIGURES: 6
- RELEASE DATE: January 1, 2023
- COST/BRICK: $0.129 CAD (good value)
- BRICKS/FIG: 284 (low fig count for a set this size)
LEGO® Monkey King Ultra Mech is a successor to the LEGO® Monkey King Warrior Mech which was unveiled in 2020 during the launch of LEGO® Monkie Kid, the LEGO Group’s first Chinese inspired theme inspired by the classic story of Monkey King. LEGO® Monkey King Ultra Mech features upgrades and add-on accessories on the model, with Monkie Kid controlling the mech with its super powers.
LEGO® Group Press Release
Lunar New Year Display (80110)
- THEME: Seasonal
- COST: $119.99 CAD ($89.99 USD)
- BRICK COUNT: 872
- MINIFIGURES: none
- RELEASE DATE: January 10, 2023
- COST/BRICK: $0.137 CAD (average value)
- BRICKS/FIG: N/A
LEGO® Lunar New Year Display has two exquisite models capturing many iconic traditional festive symbols. One model has buildable golden ingots in the traditional Yuan Bao design, koi fish for good luck, red pockets symbolizing good wishes, and the “Zhao Cai Jin Bao” greeting that welcomes fortune and treasures into the home. The other model has buildable peony flowers with the “Hua Kai Fu Gui” greeting, meaning blooming prosperity and happiness.
LEGO® Group Press Release
Lunar New Year Parade (80111)
- THEME: Seasonal
- COST: $169.99 CAD ($129.99 USD)
- BRICK COUNT: 1653
- MINIFIGURES: 18
- RELEASE DATE: January 10, 2023
- COST/BRICK: $0.10 (excellent value)
- BRICKS/FIG: 92 (excellent character count for a set this size)
LEGO® Lunar New Year Parade recreates the joyous atmosphere of a traditional parade with three colorful, connectible floats. See how the giant rabbit moves when the Year of Rabbit float is pushed. Check out the drummer banging their drum on the musician’s float. And look out for the moving dragon and people dressed as LEGO characters like Monkie Kid on the LEGO float. It creates a spectacular brick-built Lunar New Year parade.
Money Tree (40648)
- THEME: Seasonal
- COST: $34.99 CAD ($129.99 USD)
- BRICK COUNT: 336
- MINIFIGURES: None
- RELEASE DATE: December 25, 2022
- COST/BRICK: $0.10 (excellent value)
- BRICKS/FIG: N/A
LEGO® Money Tree features a tree decorated with tangerines, red envelopes and coins which represent prosperity and good luck in the Chinese tradition. The model makes an eye-catching display item and brings extra fun to the lunar new year celebrations.
LEGO® Group Press Release
What do you think?
Duplo is, well, Duplo. Let’s leave it at that. It is not completely without merit for AFOL collector. You can use it for hidden support and structure in your city builds. But, I wouldn’t go and buy it for a specific set. As for the Monkey King Ultra Mech, I think I will pass as well. I have the original Monkey King Warrior Mech unbuilt in my pile of shame. That set looks stunning already in the box art. I will build it some day for sure. This new version falls a little flat in my opinion. Perhaps it will look better in person. We’ll have to wait and see.
UPDATE: The new image of the Monkey King Ultra Mech provides a better angle of the set. The model looks much more impressive and imposing. I like it a bit more now, but I am not sure if I like it enough to actually get it.
As for the proper 2023 Chinese New Year sets, I like two of them. I am neither here nor there with the Lunar New Year Display. The flower looks like an interesting design, but I would not buy the set to learn that build technique. The Money Tree appeals to me a little more because it is a tree and I like to learn different tree building techniques. You also get a lot of pumpkins… er… tangerines. However, I am most excited about the Lunar New Year Parade. Look at all those Minifigures! Look closely, Classic Space fans, you might spot a purple helmet and oxygen tank… What do you think of the 2023 Chinese New Year sets? Let us know in the comments below or reach out on social media.
Until next time,
-Tom
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