Places of interest in Singapore which celebrates CNY.

Chinatown will the first thing you think about when they ask you "Where is the place in Singapore that is celebrating Chinese new Year?" or " Where will the chinese be preparing or shopping to celebrate Chinese New Year?". But there are other places of interest in Singapore that celebrates CNY.

Singapore River Hong Bao Carnival

For example, at the Singapore river there was the Hong Bao Carnival, where Marina Promenade hosts the yearly carnival which is from Feburary 12 to 20. "Hong Bao" derives its name from the traditional red packets of money given by older Chinese to unmarried younger relatives during Chinese New Year.

There are also nightly cultural performances and traditional Chinese artwork can be enjoyed outdoors, icons from Chinese folklore (legendary heroes, pagodas, mythical figures) loom larger than life.

There will also be 88 paper lights being featured, including the God of Fortune and Chinese Zodiac.

Though, most of the River Hong Bao's festivities took place along the Esplanade Waterfront Promenade and the Marina Bay Floating Platform.

Chingay Parade in 2010

"Chingay" in tis Hokkien equivalent, translates to "costume and masquerade". The normally staid Sinaporeans yake Chingay to its more colourful and musical extreme every year during the Chingay Parade, which is a two-night street party and parade that amrks the climax of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Well the parade is now proudly international, growing from its purely Chiese traditional roots to embrace more than 5,000 Taiwanese acrobats, Filipino traditional dancers, circus acrobats and salsa artists. Parade participants would ride on floats or walk in procession, offering a riot of colour and noise that few other Singapore festivals can equal.

As part of the celebrations, a massive Fire Dragon Dance would take place along the parade route. The 40-strong dance troupe comes straight from the city of Guangxi in China and would perform the dance through strands of lit firecrackers. I'll try to put more next time! Enjoy the rest! :D