20,000 lanterns light up Chinatown

SINGAPORE - The celebration of the Mid-Autumn festival isn't complete without lanterns, which is why organisers at this year's festivities in Chinatown has gone all out.

The record breaking 20,000 lanterns were lit up on Saturday, the first day of the Chinatown Mid-Autumn festival celebrations.

"Every year we will think of one new theme for that year. For example, this year is a kaleidoscope of lanterns. So we want to celebrate the lanterns of the world and we really wanted to brighten up the whole streets of Chinatown with something different", Dr Lily Neo, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC told RazorTV.

The lanterns, which come in five different shapes and seven different colours, dress up the streets of New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, South Bridge Road, and Chinatown's inner streets.

This year's display has entered the Singapore Book of Records yet again for the largest display of street lanterns beating last year's record of 16,800 lanterns.

Also claiming another record is a towering lantern display. Measuring 9.6m tall, 7m by 7m wide, this display made up of 580 lanterns can be found between New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street.

There were some mixed reactions from the crowd present at Chinatown when RazorTV spoke to them. Some said the lantern display was very nice while others thought that last year's was better.

The highlight of the opening ceremony was a performance of an original musical titled 'Kaleidoscope of Lanterns' which featured dances from various ethnic groups and performances from schools and overseas groups.

The evening celebration ended on a high with a three-minute display of fireworks.

Traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, Mid-Autumn festival this year falls on Sep 19.

Visitors to Chinatown can shop at the streets bazaar and enjoy nightly staged shows like folk songs and lantern riddles. They can also take part in a mass lantern walk to be held on Sep 15, 2013.

The lantern display is on from now till Oct 4, 2013.

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