Chinese New Year celebration is in the air and one of my favourite places to enjoy it is in Chinatown, Singapore. 2015 welcomes the year of the sheep on February 19th and Chinatown is abuzz with activities as locals prepare for their annual holiday in grand style. What always strike me the most though is the festive red and gold decorations.
Singapore’s historic Chinatown is a distinct mix of old and new, filled with traditional shops and markets as well as trendy stores and cafes, all surrounded by the tall skyscrapers that has become a signature of the Singapore skyline.
The colour red symbolizes good fortune, good luck, happiness and joy in the Chinese culture and it is found everywhere during the Chinese New Year and other family holidays or gatherings. Yellow or gold is considered to be the centre of everything because of the Chinese saying “Yellow generates Yin and Yang.” Yellow symbolizes neutrality and good luck and is sometimes paired with red in place of gold. It was the color of Imperial China and is held as the symbolic color of the five legendary emperors of ancient China. It also represents freedom from worldly cares and is thus esteemed in Buddhism as seen where Monks’ garments are yellow, as are elements of Buddhist temples.
So as Chinatown in Singapore is elegantly dressed in red and gold, let’s wish the Chinese community “Gong Xi Fa Cai” in welcoming the Year of the Sheep!
I’m with Garry. Singapore is a great place to lay over for a day or two when traveling east to west or visa versa. Great food, great people, nice place to stay. It’s also the most expensive city to visit in the world now, so budget travel here can be challenging. But if you’re going to splurge a day or two, this would be the place.
There are actually more budget boutique hotels opening up now, which is great. That’s usually the biggest expense I find. Eating local etc can be cheap. I lived in Singapore 2000-2002 and go back almost every year. What I don’t like is how much more crowded it has become, it’s already a small city-state. But it continues to fascinate me so I consider it one of my “homes”
Singapore is a fascinating destination.
My first impression was “it’s where West meets East”.
A City that celebrates the cultures of all its people.
It’s a great place to change flights – but – stay a while to take in the culture.
I really enjoyed my time there.
I’m with Garry. Singapore is a great place to lay over for a day or two when traveling east to west or visa versa. Great food, great people, nice place to stay. It’s also the most expensive city to visit in the world now, so budget travel here can be challenging. But if you’re going to splurge a day or two, this would be the place.
Singapore was my first introduction to what Chinese Food was all about.
Chicken porridge.
Fish head soup.
Noodles with an added flavour.
Sometimes McRonalds is a welcome sight.
I do jest.
Western Chinese food is readily available too.