The festive celebrations for Chinese New Year last over 15 days, and other than visiting friends and families over this period there are lots of activities taking place over the 15 days of CNY to help you get in touch with the Chinese festivities.
Here’s our list of 15 things you can do, one for each day of the Chinese New Year.
Day 1: 28 January Saturday
Bring your kids to Kidzania where the entire city is celebrating Chinese New Year. Each B•KidZanian CitiZens will each receive a Hongbao with 80 kidZos, and various establishments will be having activities to teach CitiZens about the various festive traditions. There’s also a Lion Dance City Parade that kids can join to bring festive luck to the entire city.
Palawan Kidz City, 31 Beach View #01-01/02, Singapore 098008
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Day 2: 29 January Sunday – Kai Nian
The Istana, the office of the President of Singapore is open to public only on selected public holidays. The second day of Chinese New Year happens to be one of them and from 8.30am to 6pm, there’ll be plenty of festive performances and special displays. There’ll also be special guided walks organised by the National Parks Board of the biodiversity in the Istana and by the National Heritage Board to view selected function rooms and gifts to the President and Prime Minister from foreign dignitaries.
Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore, Orchard Road, Singapore 238823
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Day 3: 30 January Monday – Chi Kou Ri
Learn more about the craft of making Lion Dance costumes that Lion Dance troupe prance around in for good fortune and luck according to Chinese beliefs. Mr Henry Ng, the only remaining full-time lion dance costume craftsman shares the key highlights to crafting a costume from his 20 years of experience at the National Museum from 11am to 12pm.
National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
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Day 4: 31 January Tuesday – Yang Ri
Head down to the Marina Bay area to soak in the celebratory atmosphere at the annual River Hongbao. There’ll be xinyao tunes throughout the night, large scale lanterns and a fireworks and laser show at 9pm.
The Float @Marina Bay, 20 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039805
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Day 5: 1 February Wednesday – Po Wu
Take a stroll at Singapore’s Chinese Gardens where the backdrop of the pagodas will make a great place for a festive family photo.
1 Chinese Garden Rd, Singapore 619795
Day 6: 2 February Thursday – Ma Ri
Get the entire family in touch with Chinese culture in a music filled way by watching Mulan The Musical that takes place at Resorts World Sentosa. The musical comedy from Taiwan stars local actors Pierre Png and Ann Kok, has Singapore-inspired songs and promises to leave the audience in stitches.
Resorts World™ Theatre, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
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Day 7: 3 February Friday – Ren Ri
It’s florals in abundance at Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome with a Chinese garden-inspired landscape. There will also be music and dance performances, as well as a grand performance of the rise of the golden phoenix, where there’ll be stunts by LED dragons, lions, stilt walkers and a golden phoenix.
18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
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Day 8: 4 February Saturday – Birthday of the Millet
Learn how to move like the Lion Dance performers in the Little Festive Roar by Hong Jie Association. Little ones will have the chance to don the traditional lion dance head and follow the workshop leaders to move to the beat of the Chinese drums for half an hour at 5.30pm and 6.30pm.
Esplanade Forecourt Garden, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
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Day 9: 5 February Sunday – Jade Emperor’s Birthday
As the ninth day of the lunar new year is the Jade Emperor’s birthday, many devotees will make their way to offer respects to the deity. Bring your little ones to learn more about this custom unique to the taoists in Singapore at Thian Hock Keng Temple in Singapore.
Thian Hock Keng Temple, 158 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068613
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Day 10: 6 February, Monday – Shi Bu Dong
Bring the family to learn more about what it was like living in Chinatown in Singapore in the past as well as learn more about the significance of the rooster in Chinese culture at the special Chinese New Year exhibition at the centre.
Chinatown Heritage Centre, 48 Pagoda Street, Singapore 059207
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Day 11: 7 February, Tuesday
View more than 200 stamps from all around the world that feature chickens in commemoration of the Year of the Rooster. The exhibition, Chicken and Egg: A Fowl Tale, about chickens and their related activities such as cockfighting.
Singapore Philatelic Museum, 23-B Coleman Street, Singapore 179807
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Day 12: 8 February, Wednesday
Chinese folk tales come to live with the Happy Puppetry Company. Using the age old craft of puppets, the award-winning group from Taiwan retell classic stories from Chinese folklore that we would do well to remember.
Esplanade Waterfront Canopy, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
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Day 13: 9 February, Thursday
It’s not too late to still take in the beautiful light display of handmade sculptured lanterns of roosters, hens and chicks along the roads of Chinatown.
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Day 14: 10 February, Friday
One of the largest scale street parades in Singapore, this year’s parade involves water, fire, snow and lighting effects as well as pyrotechnics and fireworks. There’ll also be large specially-designed floats lit up in all colours of the rainbow that will dazzle your senses.
F1 Pit Building,1 Republic Blvd, Singapore 038975
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Day 15: 11 February, Saturday – Yuan Xiao
Celebrate with underwater creatures at the S.E.A. Aquarium with Gong SEA Fa Cai, where you can view a unique underwater dragon dance with special lighting effects. The minis can also learn about marine life that is considered auspicious in Chinese culture.
S.E.A. Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
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