lanterns | Vincent Loy's Online Journal

It’s already the last weekend of January. Why do I felt like I have just celebrated new year a couple of days ago only? 2024 is going fast! I will be working for a few more days and then I will head back to KL for a long holiday in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration and. During the period, I will be flying to Sri Lanka with my parents for a guided trip. Can’t wait…

Today I went out to quite a number of places since it is such a good weather today. I went to Funan Mall and had a brief stop at National Gallery. I also made my way to Bugis to check out another happening pedestrian street (besides than the one in Chinatown that I visited yesterday) where all CNY stalls were set up. Since I was at Bugis already, I might as well pay a visit to the famous Kwan Im Temple over there. Prayed that things will be smooth for me and most importantly stay healthy for this coming lunar new year.

The place where I spent the most time today is actually at Gardens by the Bay. I went there to have a sneak peek of the CNY displays for the upcoming River Hongbao 2024. It is an annual event that features illuminated displays/lanterns, stage performances and carnival games in conjunction with Chinese New Year festival. I did went for the event once in the past.

This year, the event will take place from 8th Feb to 17th Feb. Unfortunately, I will be back in KL for that entire duration and hence couldn’t go. They should extend the event for another week (at least till the 15th day of CNY which is the last day of the festival) so that many more can have the opportunity to visit. The displays/decorations are still being set up at Gardens by the Bay now (but nearing completion already) and I had a sneak peek of them today.

They would really look beautiful during the event when they are illuminated in the evening. The main highlight/display would be of course the floating dragon around the Supertrees and a huge replica of God of Wealth (still under construction today). Yup… dragon display everywhere as it would be year of the dragon in Chinese calendar for this approaching lunar new year.

‘River Hongbao’ is Singapore’s most extravagant annual event to celebrate the Chinese New Year festival. It is usually marked by massive fireworks, variety of huge lanterns on display, live performances, exhibition, and was held at The Float in past years. Due to the current pandemic, the event is relocated to Gardens by the Bay this year for easier crowd control and with lesser fanfare.

There is no longer any fireworks display or live performances this year but it is still worth a visit especially if you have nothing to do on first day of CNY and are looking forward to look at the many beautiful huge lanterns/decorations on display throughout the Gardens by the Bay like me. The event runs from 10th to 16th February 2021 and is complimentary (but all time slots have been fully booked).

I manage to book two time slots, one in the late afternoon yesterday on the first day of CNY and one on evening next Monday. This gives me opportunity to view them once under the daylight, and one more time in the evening when the lanterns are lit up brightly for an entirely different experience. As this is my first time celebrating CNY in Singapore, hence this is also my first time visiting this River Hongbao event.

It was a very nice visit to the event yesterday. The lanterns/decorations on display are dazzling and beautiful. The main highlight is the 4-storey tall God of Fortune lantern. It is so massive and is certainly the main spot for photo-taking. There is also a group of interesting lanterns featuring the 12 Chinese zodiac animals with a wishing well where visitors can throw coins to hit the bells above the well. There is a physical exhibition too, on the history of lion dance that dates back to the ancient time in China.