In Pictures: Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore

Watching a drone display, queueing to buy bak kwa, and visiting River Hongbao were some of the ways that Singaporeans welcomed the Year of the Dragon.

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Ong Wee Jin

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President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his wife Jane Ittogi exchanging lunar new year greetings during Spring Reception 2024 at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre on Feb 12, 2024. — President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his wife Jane Ittogi exchanging Chinese New Year greetings during Spring Reception 2024 at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre on Feb 12.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

A dragon dance performance by Taman Jurong Community Club Juboon Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe during the Lunar New Year Istana Open House, Feb 12, 2024. — A dragon dance performance by Taman Jurong Community Club Juboon Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe during the Chinese New Year Istana Open House on Feb 12.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Marina Bay Sands (MBS) staging the largest drone show in Singapore to date to celebrate the Year of the Dragon on Feb 10, featuring 1,500 synchronised drones along the Marina Bay Waterfront promenade.

The 10-minute show, named The Legend Of The Dragon Gate, will take place on six evenings, with the other dates being Feb 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18. — Marina Bay Sands staging the largest drone show in Singapore to date to celebrate the Year of the Dragon on Feb 10, featuring 1,500 synchronised drones. The 10-minute show, named The Legend Of The Dragon Gate, will take place again on Feb 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Around 1,000 spectators came to watch the largest drone show in Singapore at the Marina Bay Waterfront on Feb 10. — Around 1,000 spectators watching the largest drone show in Singapore at the Marina Bay Waterfront on Feb 10.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

God of Wealth, played by Mr Benjamin Low, 34 , a nurse, giving red packets to patients with Mr Ong Ye Kung (third from right), Minister for Health, in attendance. Minister Ong was visiting Tan Tock Seng Hospital on the first day of the Chinese New Year on Feb 10, to express his appreciation to healthcare staff working to keep essential healthcare services running over the holiday. — The God of Wealth – played by Mr Benjamin Low, 34, a nurse – giving red packets to patients at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Feb 10, during a visit to the hospital by Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung. Mr Ong expressed his appreciation to healthcare staff working to keep essential healthcare services during the holiday.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

A large turnout at the Chinese New Year Bazaar in Chinatown as people come to complete their last-minute shopping on the eve of Chinese New Year on Feb 9. — A large turnout at the Chinese New Year Bazaar in Chinatown on the eve of Chinese New Year on Feb 9.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

People at the Chinese New Year Bazaar in Chinatown were there to soak in the festive atmosphere and to complete their last-minute shopping on the eve of Chinese New Year on Feb 9. — People shopping at the Chinese New Year Bazaar in Chinatown on New Year’s Eve on Feb 9.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

ST20240209_202491885259/pixcny09/Jason Quah

Shoppers at the Chinese New Year bazaar in Chinatown on the eve of the Lunar New Year Feb 9, 2024. — Shoppers at the Chinese New Year bazaar in Chinatown on Feb 9.
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

ST20240209_202491885259/pixcny09/Jason Quah

Shoppers at the Chinese New Year bazaar in Chinatown on the eve of the Lunar New Year Feb 9, 2024. — Shoppers at the Chinese New Year bazaar in Chinatown on Feb 9.
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Visitors watching a light show incorporating the Supertrees, a 140m-long dragon lantern and a God of Fortune figurine during the opening ceremony of River Hongbao 2024 at Gardens by the Bay on Feb 8, 2024. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM pixrhb08 — Visitors watching a light show incorporating the Supertrees, a 140m-long dragon lantern and a giant God of Fortune display during the opening ceremony of River Hongbao 2024 at Gardens by the Bay on Feb 8.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

(From right, on stage) Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) President Thomas Chua officiating the River Hongbao 2024 opening ceremony at Gardens by the Bay on Feb 8, 2024. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM — From right: Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations president Thomas Chua officiating the River Hongbao 2024 opening ceremony at Gardens by the Bay on Feb 8.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Performers from the dance department of the National Taiwan University of Physical Education and Sport perform during the media preview for the overseas cultural performances at River Hongbao 2024, held at Gardens by the Bay on Feb 7, 2024. Their piece, titled “Welcome the Arrival of Spring with Hankerchiefs” uses traditional Chinese humanistic features such as calligraphy and ink brushstrokes. — Performers from the dance department of the National Taiwan University of Physical Education and Sport performing at the media preview for the overseas cultural performances at River Hongbao 2024 at Gardens by the Bay on Feb 7. Their piece, titled Welcome The Arrival Of Spring With Handkerchiefs, uses traditional Chinese humanistic features such as calligraphy and ink brushstrokes.
ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

ST20240206_202477570571/pixbakkwa/Heng Yi-Hsin

With four days to Chinese New Year, Lim Chee Guan's New Bridge Road outlet drew long queues as shoppers stocked up on festive bak kwa.

There were more than 50 people in line at their flagship store at 10.30am on Feb 6, 2024. The queue stretched to the nearby Chinatown MRT station entrance and had customers queuing for about an hour.

Mr Michael Bheem, 63, the owner of a maid agency, is a long time customer of Lim Chee Guan and had queued for just under an hour. Despite the long queues, he still chooses to patronise this store every year.

"There is a significant difference in the taste compared to other brands," he said.

ST PHOTO: HENG YI-HSIN — Lim Chee Guan’s New Bridge Road outlet drew long queues as shoppers stocked up on bak kwa ahead of Chinese New Year. There were more than 50 people in line at the flagship store on Feb 6. The queue stretched to the nearby Chinatown MRT station entrance and had customers queuing for about an hour.
ST PHOTO: HENG YI-HSIN

ST20240204-202401076187-Lim Yaohui-pixqueue/
Close to 40 customers queueing for bak kwa in front of Lim Chee Guan store at 9.06am when it opens at 9am at 203 New Bridge Rd in Chinatown on Feb 4, 2024.
Many people are rushing to get their hands on some bak kwa (barbecued sliced pork) with Chinese New Year falling on Feb 10, next Saturday.
Mr Alex Tiong, 52, Auditor, is in the queue and buying five to six kilograms of bak kwa at Lim Chee Guan store today. He has been coming to this store for almost six years. When asked what makes this store special from other bak kwa store, he says ‘I didn’t really know leh, I thught this is the most famous in Singapore’. He intends to keep half a kilogram for himself and give the rest to his friends, ‘I hardly eat it, I don’t really enjoy the bak kua. I buy it for friends, I thought this is the default thing for Chinese New Year. When I go overseas, my friends say this is the must try bak kua store in Singapore.’
This year, several bak kwa stores raised prices by about 10 per cent, and some had offerings that were priced at over $100 per kg, Shin Min Daily News reported on Jan 15.
At Lim Chee Guan, prices for its signature bak kwa rose from $78 last year to $80 per kg this year. Meanwhile, Fragrance was selling its signature sliced bak kwa at $66 per kg, up from $62 last year.
A spokesperson for Lim Chee Guan told Shin Min that the prices of bak kwa are higher this year mainly due to the increase in labour costs and raw material costs.
Despite these challenges, the spokesperson added that Lim Chee Guan will try its best to absorb costs and avoid further price increases.
(ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI) — Almost 40 people queueing for bak kwa at the Lim Chee Guan store in Chinatown on Feb 4.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2025 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.