To celebrate this year’s Lunar New Year, Singapore’s Chinatown district has transformed into a magnificent display of 2,688 beautifully handcrafted lanterns, with 180 expertly sculptured pig lanterns dotting its main streets.
The main centrepiece that greets visitors at the cross junction of Eu Tong Sen Street and Upper Cross Street is a towering 12 metre-tall sculpture of a family of pigs standing atop a bulging purse overflowing with gold coins.
The district of Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road has been separated into three sections of Wealth, Celebration and Knowledge, each showcasing pigs that represent these respective elements – using props like ingots, red lanterns and paper scrolls.
Customised trains and buses decked out in Chinese New Year-inspired designs have also been rolled out to spread the festive cheer all across the island for a month starting from 19th January!
Some other key highlights of this year’s festival include:
- Chinatown Wishing Tree, to hang wishing cards on the lucky banyan tree at S$2/- per wishing card, where all proceeds collected will benefit Kreta Ayer Seniors’ Activity Centre for the underprivileged elderly residing in Chinatown
- 12th International Lion Dance Competition, a sold-out event every year
- Chinatown Walking Trail, a free expedition that covers Kreta Ayer Road, Sago Street, Pagoda Street and New Bridge Road, led by experienced ambassadors who can share interesting anecdotes with the visitors about the culture and heritage of Chinatown
- Chingay 2019 @ Heartlands, the largest street performance and float parade in Asia, will make an appearance to mark the end of the Chinese New Year Celebrations.
