Chinese New Year Shopping

- Singapore Chinatown Night Market 2010
- Photos of Past Night Markets

"There is no shopping frenzy like Chinese New
Year Shopping at Chinatown Singapore!"

On this page: [Night Market Photo Tour] [Tips for Travellers]

What:
Pre Chinese New Year Shopping @ Chinatown Singapore

Where:
Pagoda Street, Chinatown Singapore

When: 23 Jan 2010 - 13 Feb 2010

(in conjunction with Chinatown Street Light Up)

Singapore Chinese New Year Photo Tour

Have a look at what happened during Chinese New Year 2007...

	No kidding. In the weeks leading to Chinese New Year, everybody seems to be in Chinatown Singapore. The streets here become Singapore's most exciting night market. This lucky girl gets to ride on her dad's shoulders, and enjoy a vantage view of the Chinese New Year shopping frenzy.

	Everything you see here will have dashes of gold or red. We Chinese consider these colours to be auspicious. Fruits with these colours are highly sought after. So you'll find mountains of mandarins, kumquats, pomelos - and any fruit with a shade of yellow - at Chinatown's make-shift stalls.

	A favourite around this time is the lap cheong, a waxed Chinese sausage used in many festive dishes.

	In February 2007, the Chinese ushered in the Year of the Golden Pig, which occurs only once every 60 years. But there was no respite for this little pig. It was waxed, and hung here to be picked up by some hungry Chinese New Year shopper.

	Can you make out what these crumply creatures are? Can you see the rounded beaks and the webbed feet? Yes, we Chinese love to eat ducks! These ones are waxed in the traditional way. Before the fridge was invented, the Chinese waxed their poultry to preserve them. It is supposed a delicacy for the Chinese. But I for one wouldn't even touch them!

	Chinese New Year shopping is never complete until you buy some Chinese zodiac decoratives. As I walked these energetic alleys, all manner of pigs stared at me - cardboard pigs, porcelain pigs, clay pigs, waxed pigs.

	These piglets make you want to smile, don't they?

	During the Chinese New Year shopping season, the shops try to sell everything to everyone, including these fridge magnets. These ones pronounce blessings: prosperity, abundance, luck.

	Lanterns are also in abundance, again in red and gold fabrics.

	During the Chinese New Year shopping season, many shoppers buy on impulse. And the vendors know it. The offerings in Chinatown are amazing, with wares ranging from the essential to the ridiculous. Fans like these ones on the left are obviously eye-catching. But I don't think the locals buy things like that during the off-season.

	The word 吉 (fortune), with a red base on a golden ball, is supposed to be a very auspicious symbol. Many folks hang these decorations up during Chinese New Year. The older folks in my family swear by them. Each time I see these balls, though, the cynic in me begins to wonder... If they are so auspicious, why haven't the owners become ridiculously rich yet? So that in following years, they could afford to hang up real golden balls and S$10k notes instead?

	The calligrapher at work... In a bygone era, he was a celebrity of sorts, because he doubled as a letter writer for illiterate migrant workers. It was the only way these early immigrants could communicate with loved ones in China. Today, he is more likely to write for a very different customer - the curious non-Chinese tourist.

	Left scroll: Welcome, Prosperity. Right scroll: Harmony at home, happiness in all things. These scrolls would grace many Chinese homes during the Chinese New Year festivities. Chinese New Year shopping usually involves buying some of these writings, with pronouncements of blessings.

	The House of Red Lanterns!

	The banners on these shophouses scream at the shoppers. These are not words of blessings; they entice shoppers to try the delicious dishes served here.

	A brightly-lit advertisement belonging to a very famous BBQ meat chain - Bee Hock Guan.

	More words of blessings: May your business(es) prosper!

	Yet more words of blessings.


Chinese New Year Shopping in Singapore 2010 - Tips for Tourists If you want to soak up the Chinese New Year atmosphere in Singapore, visit during the 2-3 weeks leading up to Chinese New Year's Day (i23 Jan 2010 to 13 Feb 2010). Head down to Chinatown's alleys - you'll see the Chinese New Year shopping frenzy. This is also the time to take in the fascinating street performances in Chinatown Singapore, especially at the Kreta Ayer Square area. Do note that 14-15 Feb 2010 are Chinese New Year holidays in Singapore. And the shopping suddenly stops on these days. Many of the smaller shops and restaurants are closed - only a few (and I mean very few) department stores are open. Chinese Singaporeans will use this time to either visit relatives or go on a short vacation overseas. If you visit during these 2 days, you won't see much action on the streets, except for the River Hongbao Carnival at night. Getting here: Hail a taxi. Or take the MRT train to Chinatown Station. Look for the Pagoda Street / Temple Street exit. Go up the escalator and before you come out into the open, you'd hear the rumblings of Singapore's most energetic shopping event. Related Chinese New Year Celebrations 2010 Chinese New Year Street Performance @ Chinatown Singapore Chingay 2010 - Chinese New Year Street Parade 2009 Chinese New Year - Some Highlights Chinese New Year Carnival - River Hong Bao 2009 Chinese New Year Fireworks 2008 Sentosa Flowers Festival 2008