Singapore Chinese New Year Celebrations 2010

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and in Singapore you can feel that Chinese New Year excitement as many places have already replaced the Christmas and New Year decorations with the Chinese New Year decorations since beginning of January.  Singapore is one of the best city to experience Chinese New Year as  the majority of population is Chinese and many of the places are easily accessible.    Many of the Chinese New Year traditions are passed down and practiced here since the day when the first Chinese immigrants came from mainland China.  

If you would like to know what Chinese New Year is like, come to Singapore and visit one of these places to experience this heavily celebrated festive session in Singapore.  What’s more, most of the places recommended are FREE!

1. ChinaTown

Chinatown  is the central of attraction for Chinese New Year in the few weeks leading up to Chinese New Year and a few weeks following that.  You can easily immerse in the entire Chinese cultural experience and experience the festive hustle and bustle simply by walking the streets of Chinatown.  Chinatown is also where local Chinese congregate year after year to shop for necessary new year items for the home and to soak in the festive atmosphere.   Foreigners flock to this place to get the first hand experience of what Chinese New Year is like.

Do your shopping at the Festive Street which will be crowded with many visitors especially during the CNY eve.  There are more than 100 stalls along Pagoda Street, Temple Street, Smith Street, Sago Street and Trengganu Street.   On CNY’s eve (13 Feb 2010),  is the best time do some serious bargain hunting. All the vendors at the night market will start giving discounts on their products because they would be out of session the very next day.  This will be a good time to buy some souvenirs or tidbits.   Near midnight, join the crowd near the MRT station for the Chinese New Year 2010 Countdown Concert, which will culminate with fireworks at midnight.

The key activities happening there are:

• Festive Street Stall (23 Jan – 13 Feb): Pagoda, Smith, Sago, Temple and Trengganu Streets, People’s Park Complex
• Nightly Stage Shows (23 Jan – 13 Feb): Kreta Ayer Square Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2010 Countdown (13 Feb): Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road
• Chinatown Yuan Xiao Jie 元宵节(28 Feb): Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road

Where: Chinatown Singapore

When:  Jan 23, 2010 – Mar 07, 2010.

Cost: FREE!

2. Martial Arts – Wonderful Spring at The Heeren

  The honored tradition and discipline of martial arts is showcased this weekend, and shoppers can catch skilful artistes leap into action and demonstrate their martial arts moves. Accompanying their performance off-stage will be entertaining stilt-walkers who will be mingling with the crowds around The Heeren. Shoppers can also see artisans at work as they create paper cuttings of the Chinese zodiac and other intricate designs for you to bring home.

Where: The Heeren. 260 Orchard Road 238855

When:  Feb 06, 2010 – Feb 07, 2010

Cost: FREE!

3. The Acrobatic Thrill of Love – Spring & Love Blossom @ City Square

Enter our magical world of dreams and love, and enjoy thrilling acrobatic performances. Feast your eyes on a variety of amazing acrobatic skills performed by an agile unicyclist, graceful contortionists, skilful handkerchief spinners and dynamic skaters.

Where: City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road 208539.

When:  Jan 23, 2010 – Jan 31,  2010

Time:  7pm (Tues – Fri), 1pm, 4pm & 7pm (Sat & Sun)

Cost: FREE!

4. Face Changing 变脸- Wonderful Spring @ The Heeren

Face change performance always wow me as I always wonder how do they change their “face” with such a split second and with so many different design of faces.  There will be three artistes staging a unique performance showcasing the mysterious traditional art of ‘face changing’ (‘bianlian’ / 变脸), narrating the story of the classic Journey to the West for shoppers.

You can also walk away with finger paintings of auspicious good luck fish and lotuses as The Heeren’s artist creates masterpieces with his deft fingers.

God of Fortune visit The Heeren as well.  Look out for the God of Fortune and snap a picture with him as he descends upon the mall to give his blessings for a prosperous new year!

Where: The Heeren, 260 Orchard Road 238855.

When:  Jan 30, 2010 – Jan 31, 2010

Cost: FREE!

5. Chinese New Year @ Jurong Bird Park

You will find the auspicious Lion Dance, flower arrangements, Zodiac Quest, big head doll and the God of Fortune all here at the Jurong Bird Park this year.

Chinese New Year is not complete without the proverbial God of Fortune, and he will be right here at the Jurong Bird Park, blessing everyone with good fortune, and if you like, he can also read your palm and tell what the new year heralds for you.

All is not sedate at the bird park, as there will be a lion performing on the high pole with another on the ground with a big head doll mingling with guests, providing plenty of photographic opportunities for visitors.

So come to Jurong Bird Park and find colors of the rainbow sprinkled around Jurong Bird Park this Chinese New Year with life-sized 3D art displays of birds, vibrant flower arrangements, a Zodiac Quest, the quintessential lion dance, big head doll and God of Fortune appearances!

Where: Jurong Bird Park, 2 Jurong Hill 628925.

When:  Feb 13, 2010 – Feb 21, 2010

Time:  10.30am & 2.30pm

Cost: Normal admission rates of $18.00 for adults and $12.00 for children between 3-12 years apply for all the activities.