For a full seven weeks, the majority Chinese ethnic community in Singapore throws their biggest party of the year, without exception. The Chinese New Year represents a time for family bonding, prayers for prosperity and the elimination of all stops for dining, shopping and entertainment, mainly around the ethnic enclave of Chinatown.
As a visitor, an immersion in Singapore’s Chinese New Year represents one of the most authentic local experiences you will ever have the pleasure of enjoying on the island. Also bring the rest of the clan for this family cultural experience.
Chinese New Year in Singapore’s Chinatown
The Chinese New Year in Singapore begins in the ethnic enclave of Chinatown, particularly along Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road. Chinatown’s Chinese New Year celebrations transform the island-state’s traditional Chinese enclave into a riot of lanterns, street stalls and performing arts, with celebrations spreading all the way to Marina Bay.
We look forward to some key events of the season: a Street Light-Up, a festive Street Bazaar, Nightly Stage Shows and the Singapore River Hong Bao.
Chinese New Year Street Light-Up in Chinatown. Chinatown’s key streets – Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road – will be lit up with traditional Chinese lanterns and colorful street lights, as street performers and acrobats (not to mention the inevitable lion dancers) enliven the streets.
The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) participates annually in the design and construction of the Chinese New Year Light-Up. For the ‘Year of the Pig’ in 2019, SUTD introduces piglet-themed lighting, enhanced by lanterns and tents that illuminate the streets of Chinatown.
The Opening Ceremony will take place on January 19, launching the light that will remain in place until March 6.
Chinese New Year countdown. Celebrate Chinese New Year in Singapore’s Chinatown as you join the locals and local celebrities with firecrackers and fireworks throughout the night.
For 2019, the Chinatown Chinese New Year Countdown Party takes place on the evening of February 4, at Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road, from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Night scenes. Local and overseas cultural performance companies take the stage, showcasing traditional Chinese performances such as martial arts, lion dancing, and Chinese opera. Come to Kreta Ayer Square, next to the Temple of the Buddha Tooth Relic, to see the events that take place each night.
For 2019, the shows ran from January 18 to February 4, beginning at 8 p.m. and ending at 10:30 p.m.
Singapore’s Chinatown festivities for Chinese New Year are spearheaded by the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens Advisory Committee (KA-KS CCC). More information on their official site: chinatownfestivals.sg.
Bazaar Shopping and Restaurants during Chinese New Year
Singapore’s Chinatown will host more than four hundred stalls selling traditional foods, flowers, crafts and traditional Chinese New Year decorations. Sample freshly-served street cookies, waxed duck, and grilled sweets, or pick up some traditional Chinese New Year decorations to remember the day.
Lunar New Year bazaar stalls line Pagoda Street, Smith Street, Sago Street, Temple Street and Trengganu Street within Chinatown, from 6 pm to 10:30 pm, extended at 1 am to Chinese New Year. For the 2019 celebrations, the Bazaar ran from January 18 to February 4.
The Bazaar is just the icing on the ice cream shop in the island’s ethnic Chinese enclave. Learn more about Shopping in Chinatown, Singapore. And read about Singapore and its place in the street food cities of Southeast Asia.
Singapore Hong Bao River Carnival
On the shore of the Singapore River, The Float @ Marina Bay hosts Singapore’s annual Hong Bao Singapore River Carnival . (To find out what else Marina Bay is for, read our list of the top 10 things to do in Marina Bay, Singapore.)
The “Hong Bao” derives its name from the traditional red bundles of money that the older Chinese gave to younger unmarried relatives during the Chinese New Year.
Evening cultural performances and traditional Chinese artwork can be enjoyed outdoors, and the giant lanterns created from popular Singapore landmarks look more than real.
Write your name in Chinese calligraphy. Get a Chinese zodiac reading from your date of birth. Explore Hongbao River Food Street (more on Singaporean cuisine here: Ten Dishes You Must Try in Singapore).
Or just watch the main stage nightly shows that take place on the Float, featuring local artists and foreign talent. If you want to get into the rhythm of Chinese culture for the duration of the festival, Hong Bao is the place to be. Admission is free. Visit Hong Bao River – Official Site.
Singapore Chingay Parade
“Chingay”, in its Hokkien equivalent, translates to “disguise and masquerade.” Normally regular Singaporeans take Chingay to its most colorful and musical extreme each year during the Chingay Parade, a two-night street party and parade that marks the climax of the Chinese New Year celebration.
The parade is now proudly international, growing from its traditional purely Chinese roots to encompass more than 150 local organizations and thousands of artists, with groups of international artists from China, Denmark, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.
The Chingay parade route takes place in front of the Formula One building in the context of the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay. Parade participants will ride floats, or walk in procession, offering an explosion of color and noise that few Singapore festivals can match.
For 2019, Chingay will take place in the Pit Building from February 15 to 16; a separate Chingay celebration will be held in Chinatown on February 17th. Chingay tickets can be purchased at SISTIC (sistic.com.sg). Tickets are also available at the Singapore Visitor Center on Orchard Road and the Singapore Pools Outlets. For more information, visit the Chingay website: chingay.org.sg.
To see what to expect as a spectator, check out our article on the Chingay Parade in Singapore.
How to get there and accommodation in Chinatown
Transportation: MRT can easily get to Chinatown-centric festivities, just get off at Chinatown MRT Station (NE4 / DT19).
To get to Chingay and Hong Bao River, you can go to Marina Bay by riding the MRT and disembarking at MRT Esplanade Station (CC3), MRT Promenade Station (CC4 / DT15), MRT Raffles Place Station (NS26 / EW14), or the MRT station of the town hall (NS25 / EW13).
To learn more about Singapore’s convenient commuter system, read our article on Riding Singapore’s MRT and buses with the EZ-Link card.
Accommodation: For accommodation closer to the Chinese New Year festivities, you can check our lists of budget hotels in Chinatown, Singapore; Or see accommodations closest to Chingay with our list of Riverside Singapore hotels.
