Next year's River Hongbao will take place over two weekends for the first time and feature the most lantern displays in the carnival's 28-year history.

The annual Chinese New Year carnival, previously a nine-day event, will be held for 11 days at the Floating Platform @ Marina Bay, from Jan 29 to Feb 8. It will feature 28 hand-crafted lantern displays, up from 25 this year. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

Highlights of the carnival include performances by the highly acclaimed Yunnan Opera Theatre and a handicraft street featuring jewellery, ethnic costumes and cultural products from China's Yunnan province. At the Food Street, visitors can try Yunnan delicacies such as the famous over-the-bridge noodles, Pu'er tea flavoured drumsticks and baked tea quail eggs.

The River Hongbao 2014 light-up ceremony will take place on Jan 29 with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as the guest-of-honour. Visitors can expect two firework displays at the carnival - one during the ceremony and another on Jan 30 during the Chinese New Year Eve countdown party.