7 activities to do in Singapore this Chinese New Year long weekend

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No visiting duties this Chinese New Year long weekend? If you’ve got a free weekend beckoning, check out our list of alternative things that you can do!

1. Have a staycation

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It might be a little late to plan an overseas trip, but you can always have a staycation in Singapore. Here are some of the great deals available over the Chinese New Year long weekend:

Kam Leng Hotel – $102++

Are you one of those people that describes themselves as an old soul? Step back into a long-gone era at the vintage-style Kam Leng Hotel.

Wanderlust Hotel – $199++

Take your pick from any one of the 29 whimsically designed rooms at this boutique hotel. Aspiring novelists will love the typewriter-themed room, and designers will obsess over the monochrome Pantone rooms.

The Quincy Hotel – $210++

Knock yourself out at their 24 hour infinity pool – and drop by for their Art Jamming sessions which are complimentary for all couples.

All rates are for a Queen room (or the equivalent) from 27th – 28th January. Rates are accurate as of 16th January.

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2. Get a new hairdo

Whether you want to get a haircut, perm your hair, or update your look with a new colour, Chinese New Year is a great time to do it – because you’re likely to have the whole salon to yourself!

Not all salons will be open over the Chinese New Year long weekend, though! Here’s a list of the salons which will be:

Bump Hair Design

Specialty: Perms and straightening

Rubik Hair Salon

Specialty: Japanese-style cuts

Art-noise Japanese Hair Salon

Specialty: Japanese-style cuts and scalp treatments

Covo Japanese Hair Salon

Specialty: Digital and Creep perms

Aventa Hair Salon

Specialty: Hair colouring

3. Soak in the atmosphere at Chinatown

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Even if you don’t celebrate Chinese New Year, there’s no harm in checking out the festivities at Chinatown. Try some of the delicious snacks that the hawkers are selling at the bazaar, admire the handmade Rooster lanterns that line the streets, and pop by Kreta Ayer Square between 8pm and 10.30pm for their nightly (up till 27th January!) song and dance shows.

4. Plan a trip to Gardens By The Bay

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If squeezing with the masses at Chinatown isn’t exactly your idea of a good time, head down to Gardens By The Bay instead. Their Chinese New Year Floral Display goes by the name of Dahlia Dreams, and amongst other things, it features a three-tier pagoda, pavilions, moon gates and various Rooster sculptures.

5. Catch the Chingay Parade

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New York City has her Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; Singapore has the Chingay Parade. This year marks the 45th edition of the parade, and you can expect to see performances by both local and international acts, pyrotechnics, fireworks, and of course, a line-up of elaborately designed, painstakingly made floats.

6. Visit the Istana

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Take advantage of the Chinese New Year to visit the Istana, which is only open for viewing on major public holidays.

Other than a guided tour wherein visitors can access selected function rooms and view a display of gifts presented to the President and Prime Minister, the programme on 29th January includes balloon sculpting, face painting, and song and dance performances by various volunteers.

7. Check out Huayi, the Chinese Festival of Arts

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The annual Huayi Festival aims to showcase the works of outstanding Chinese artists of all genres, and by doing so, provide its audience with a taste of these highly dynamic forms of Chinese artistic expression.

One programme that sounds particularly promising is Offending The Audience – an original adaptation of a 1966 play that challenged perceptions of theatre and rocked the establishment during its day. The new programme is said to push boundaries – watch it for yourself to find out more!

Other than ticketed events, free events are also available.

The above-mentioned should be enough for you to occupy your long weekend with – but if none of them are your cup of tea, you can always hibernate at home with takeout and a trusty Netflix subscription. Enjoy your long weekend!