Journey to Marina Bay

For nine consecutive nights from Saturday, the Marina Bay skyline will be lit for three minutes with fireworks synchronised with lasers, flames and traditional Chinese music.

This is to mark the 30th anniversary of River Hongbao, an annual Chinese New Year event to preserve and showcase Chinese culture and tradition.

In line with the Year of the Monkey, many of its activities are based on the Chinese folktale Journey to the West.

Thirty performers from The Song and Dance Theatre from Nanjing, China, will stage a theatrical performance, The Monkey King, on the first five nights of the event.

Visitors can also take photos with lantern figures of the characters in Journey to the West.

These figures are handcrafted by professional craftsmen from China and arranged to look like Chinese chess pieces on a chessboard. The characters are also found on a mural measuring 35m by 10m.

RIDES

With more than 30 amusement rides and game stalls, visitors can also look forward to a 3D animatronic dinosaur ride, where they can ride on walking dinosaur figures measuring 3.5m in length and complete with head, mouth and tail movements.

Cultural activities that visitors can participate in include Chinese calligraphy and riddle games.

Visitors can also reminisce about the xinyao era, a term referring to songs created by Singaporeans in the 1980s, during Xinyao Night on Feb 11.

Seven singers, including Li Feihui and Hong Shao Xuan, will perform iconic xinyao songs.

To top off the festive spirit, a God of Fortune figure - which stands at 18m - will shower the crowd with gold confetti at stipulated timings in the evening.

To show how the River Hongbao has evolved over the 30 years since it started, 200 photos were curated by Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao and will be displayed at a photo exhibition at the event.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa, chairman of River Hongbao 2016 organising committee, said: "Given that River Hongbao started as a community ground-up event, to be able to sustain it for 30 years is a cause for celebration.

"I hope that the last 30 years of River Hongbao have brought fond memories to a generation of Singaporeans and will continue to be an event where families and friends can spend festive moments together."

Catch The Monkey King, fireworks and more at 30th River Hongbao.

WHERE

Marina Bay floating platform

WHEN

Feb 6 to 14

OPENING HOURS

2pm to 11pm (Amusement rides open at noon)

ADMISSION

Free

ORGANISED BY

Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, Singapore Press Holdings, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Singapore Tourism Board and People's Association

krystalc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 4, 2016.
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