Chinese New Year (China Town)
Chinese New Year (China Town)
4.4
About
Gong Xi Fa Cai! (May the New Year bring you fortune and good luck!) Be prepared to be immersed into a sea of red and gold hues as Singapore's Chinatown takes the lead in ushering in the traditional Chinese New Year! Discover the street markets coming to life with goodies such as decorative ornaments on sale; and be prepared to queue for hours for the yummy New Year snack 'bah kwa' (barbecued sliced pork). The crowd thickens by the day as the city counts down to the party — and it is the only time of the year the authorities allow the use of firecrackers in Singapore. It's definitely worth the jostle to experience the festive flavor upfront, and the crowd favorite has to be the unique New Year lanterns that represent the animal zodiac of the Chinese New Year.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Chinese New Year (China Town) and nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Central Area/City Area
Singapore's Central Area, also known as the City Area, is a treasure trove of cultural, historical, and modern attractions. Uncover the rich history of this neighborhood at the National Museum of Singapore or the Asian Civilisations Museum. Marvel at iconic landmarks such as the Marina Bay Sands and the towering skyscrapers that punctuate the skyline. The Central Area is a food lover's paradise with hawker centers serving local favorites like Hainanese chicken rice and chili crab, and upscale restaurants offering international cuisines. With an extensive network of MRT stations, buses, and taxis, navigating this neighborhood is a breeze. At night, the Central Area transforms into a lively hub with Clarke Quay and Boat Quay offering an array of entertainment and nightlife options.
How to get there
- Telok Ayer • 8 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
6,993 within 3 miles
Attractions
852 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.4
92 reviews
Excellent
48
Very good
31
Average
12
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Lyn
1 contribution
Jan 2020
A lot of great items to buy at a reasonable cost! We went there in the afternoon. The place was a bit crowded. There were some restaurants too. We didn't stay for long since we're leaving in the evening. It was great having to visit such a good place with friendly people.
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
C...
Gippsland, Australia95,524 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
Our first visit to Singapore and we were recommended to join the festivities for the Chinese New Year .... so we caught a cab from our hotel to China town. The crowds were as clustered as tight as a bunch of bananas... which is appropriate considering we were celebrating the Chinese New Year heralding the year of the monkey. It was difficult to get to see the street parade... that I believe the Prime Minister was also attending ( Hopefully with a better viewpoint than ours :) ) The street decorations were enchanting... gorgeous animated monkeys filled the tree displays in the city. It was a pretty incredible way to immerse yourself in the city.
Written February 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Blongtin
Henderson, NV16 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
Best place to enjoy some market local foods if you dare and souvenirs. The temple requires no shoes and a $3 photo permit but a beautiful building. We did this during Chinese New Year and made it more special. Very crowded to get through the narrow streets.
Written January 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
beforeyouaccuseme
Edinburgh, UK240 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Wonderful place full of colour and obligatory waving cats - we ate some fab street food and loved strolling the streets taking in the atmosphere, colours and the people!
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fredhardman
Brisbane, Australia49 contributions
Jan 2012 • Friends
We visited China town on the build up to Chinese New Year and were caught up with the colour and excitment. It was pleasing to see so many locals shopping and getting involved with the festivities. There were great places to eat.
Written February 7, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lovebeachyogasurfcoffee
Coffs Harbour, Australia298 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Must go.
Lots of red, decorations every where and the statue of mice.....the Chinese zodiac for 2020
Energetic and authentic .
Lots of food stalls.
Pagoda street is famous for reasonable souvenirs but Smith st and other street was full of fruits, dried nuts and lots other lucky items for Chinese New Year.
The whole town makes people happy.
Lots of red, decorations every where and the statue of mice.....the Chinese zodiac for 2020
Energetic and authentic .
Lots of food stalls.
Pagoda street is famous for reasonable souvenirs but Smith st and other street was full of fruits, dried nuts and lots other lucky items for Chinese New Year.
The whole town makes people happy.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamilene
Melbourne, Australia18 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
What a disaster! Incorrect information given by locals, no parade, crowds of people and no comms.
Locals advised to be at Chinatown by 5pm onwards, there was supposed to be a parade at 8pm. We waited over an hour and there was nothing! Streets were blocked and nothing had happened. Others waited for over 2 hours to find a spot and nothing!! Extremely disappointed and a waste of time. The police advised that there was a formal celebration on 27 Feb and not on 15 Feb... Disappointing and should have stayed home with my dogs!
Locals advised to be at Chinatown by 5pm onwards, there was supposed to be a parade at 8pm. We waited over an hour and there was nothing! Streets were blocked and nothing had happened. Others waited for over 2 hours to find a spot and nothing!! Extremely disappointed and a waste of time. The police advised that there was a formal celebration on 27 Feb and not on 15 Feb... Disappointing and should have stayed home with my dogs!
Written February 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise 🌍TRAVEL BLOGGER🛫
Manchester, UK569 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
Very nice place to walk around and very cultural. The lanterns are lovely when lit up at night. The food is good too.
Written December 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Benny Super Shiok Food
Singapore, Singapore534 contributions
Jan 2017 • Friends
When with wife and Brother-in-law,to this great festivals shopping many goodie to buy and bargains. Many Souvenirs. Cookies; Decorative ;Sweet and dessert to buy especially Chinese cookies.There are are household item like Year of Rooster bed sheet; Pillow with Rooster designed .etc.A must for local & Tourist attractions. Attached photo
Written March 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emmy G
Frankfurt, Germany114 contributions
Jan 2017
Chinese New Year and the run-up to it are very important to the locals! Thus, the streets in Chinatown were decorated for the occasion. There was a special street market, Lion Dances and light-ups in the run-up. Then, in the afternoon of Chinese New Year's Eve, everything shut down and shops remained closed for several days.
Written February 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi my sister and i are staying in Singapore for 3 days 23rd may to 26th may what events and special attractions are on at that time ?
Written January 4, 2019
Hi Emmy,
We are planning to celebrate New Chinese Year - February 4, 2019 in Singapore. We have a few questions here. Hopefully you are kind with our questions. Do you recommend us to visit Singapore earlier for shopping before New Chinese Year because of closing stores during holidays? When do they celebrate New Chinese Year on exact date or on a different date for an official ceremony with the parade? What time did they celebrate New Chinese Year when you visited there? Afternoon or at dusk time? Please advise. Thank you!
Written April 9, 2018
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Related Stories
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing