CHINESE FESTIVAL of ART

Huayi Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay Held during Chinese New Year each year, this festival celebrates the most exciting and accomplished Chinese talents from around the world today. On 2006, marked the return of this annual festival to Esplanade wll be outstanding companies and productions such as the cloud gate dance theatre of Taiwan performing their famous work Cursive. Silver screen star Liu Xiaoqing from China stars in the Chinese theatre piece. " The Last Night of Jin Da Ban ", adapted from a ppular novel, while China's renowned Li Liuyi Drama studio performs the gripping suspense thriller Mahjong. Not to be missed too are the performances by the China Philharmonic Orchestra and Violin recitals by Huang Mengla and Lu Siqing, both winners of the Paganini International Violin Competition. Throughout the festival, audiences of all ages can delight in the range of free programmes, both indoor and outdoor, which include Chinese drums, puppetry, and a diverse range of music performances...

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Heralding the arrival of Spring, Chinese New Year is a time for reunion with family and loves ones. During this joyous season, everything has an auspicious meaning. Red represent luck, Mandarin oranges symbolise gold nuggets and unique culinary dishes are prepared to welcome a year of good fortune. If you're here during this time, be prepared for a whirlwind of boisterous celebrations, a lavish spread of delicacies, and vabrant cultural processions and performances. Taking centre stage is the Light up ceremony at Chinatown. Featuring firework, enthralling performances and spectacularly lit streets, the Light-Up ceremony marks tha stat of Chinese New Year festivities in Chinatown. Not to be missed too is Chingay- a procession of incredible floats accompanied by international and local performers - it's one of the most lavish parades in the region. To around up the festivities, head on down to the Singapore River Hongbao. A carnival for young and old aloke, it's the prefect place for both locals and tourists to enjoy the Lunar New Year atmosphere..*visitsingapore.com