Wan Qing CultureFest is back and better than ever! Take a walk down memory lane and join us for two bustling weekends of your favourite #throwback activities that are sure to get you misty-eyed with nostalgia. This year’s festival will reminisce the best of yesteryears, from country flag eraser battles and iconic local films, to street opera and Chinese martial arts.
Expect a myriad of activities including heritage trails, guided tours, craft workshops, cultural showcases, live performances and more. Join us at Wan Qing CultureFest for a cultural extravaganza not to be missed!
Activities are free unless otherwise stated.
Programmes – Cultural Showcase
TCM & You
(Supported by NTU Chinese Medicine)
With a history of over 2,000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of the world’s oldest forms of medicine. Find out more about the various Chinese herbs and their associated properties, and learn how to boost your overall health and wellness in this hands-on TCM demonstration.
Date: 3 November
Time: 12.00pm – 1.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Wushu 101
(Supported by Chung Cheng High School (Main) Wushu)
The term Wushu (武术) is made up out two Chinese characters – 武 (wu), meaning ‘combat’ and 术 (shu), meaning ‘art form’. In essence, Wushu is a form of contemporary Chinese martial arts which blends elements of performance and martial application. Learn more about this ancient art form through a live wushu demonstration
Date: 3 November
Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Introduction to Nanyang Tea
(Supported by Pek Sin Choon Pte Ltd)
Famed for having conceived Nanyang tea in the early 20th century, Pek Sin Choon Pte Ltd boasts over 90 years of history and is one of Singapore’s oldest tea merchants. Find out more about Chinese tea culture and history, learn tea brewing techniques from experts, and try your hand at packing tea leaves the traditional way!
Date: 3 November
Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Shall We Dance?
(Supported by NTU CAC Chinese Dance Club)
Founded in 1994, NTU CAC Chinese Dance Club seeks to promote the essence and spirit of Chinese dance through the creative integration of traditional and modern elements. Be treated to a mesmerising dance performance by NTU CAC Chinese Dance Club, and put on your dancing shoes as you learn some basic Chinese dance moves in a live demonstration of this traditional performing art.
Date: 4 & 11 November
Time: 12.00pm – 1.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Art of Tea Appreciation
(Supported by NTU Chinese Society Tea Art Group)
Enjoy aromatic Chinese tea and learn more about the delicate art of tea brewing and appreciation. Visitors will also be able to learn more about the different strains of Chinese tea and their unique taste profiles in this hands-on session.
Date: 4 November
Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Discovering Teochew Opera
(Supported by Tok Tok Chiang Wayang Pte Ltd)
Delve into the colourful world of Chinese opera, more commonly known as wayang, and learn more about this fascinating art form and its various styles. Watch a live demonstration of Teochew Street Opera, and learn operatic movements in this interactive showcase.
Date: 4 November
Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
A Brush with Culture
(Supported by NTU Confucius Institute Chinese Calligraphy)
Learn what makes the pen mightier than the sword in this hands-on showcase! Perfect for beginners, this demonstration will be led by NTU Confucius Institute and will include a sharing session on calligraphy techniques and its significance in Chinese culture. Visitors can also learn basic calligraphy and put their skills to the test through simple writing exercises.
Date: 10 November
Time: 12.00pm – 1.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Crosstalk & Comedy
(Supported by Speak Mandarin Campaign)
Crosstalk, also known as Xiangshen (相声) which literally translates to ‘face’ (相) and ‘voice’ (声), is a traditional Chinese comedic performing art. Originating from the Qing dynasty, crosstalk features a comedic dialogue between two performers often filled with jokes and puns. Discover this unique Chinese performing art with a live crosstalk performance!
Date: 10 November
Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Sights & Sounds of Cantonese Opera
(Supported by Chinese Theatre Circle Limited)
Delve into the colourful world of Chinese opera, more commonly known as wayang, and learn more about this fascinating art form and its various styles. Watch a live demonstration of Cantonese Street Opera, and learn operatic movements in this interactive showcase.
Date: 11 November
Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Parent Child Skit
(Supported by Speak Mandarin Campaign)
Organised by the Speak Mandarin Campaign, the Parent Child Talent Competition is a nationwide contest which provides immersive opportunities for parents to bond and have fun with their children, while learning and speaking Mandarin. Catch the winners of the Parent Child Talent Competition 2018 in this unique drama skit performance showcase!
Date: 11 November
Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Cheongsam Culture
(Supported by Mama & Misse)
The cheongsam, or qipao, is a traditional dress often made of silk. A popular choice of garb amongst Singaporean women during special occasions such as Chinese New Year, the cheongsam has also come to symbolize Chinese culture. Drop by our cheongsam display booth and learn more about the intricate art of traditional dressmaking!
Date: 11 November
Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Programmes – Craft Activities
Be a Little Artist!
(Supported by Lianhe Zaobao Student Correspondents Club)
Fulfil your artistic dreams and learn basic illustration techniques in this hands-on session presented by Lianhe Zaobao Student Correspondents Club.
Date: 3 November
Time: 11.00am – 2.00pm
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Friendship Bracelet Weaving
Calling all 90s kids! There’s nothing more nostalgic than woven bracelets symbolising everlasting friendship with your BFF. Take a walk down memory lane and DIY your very own friendship bracelet with a selection of colourful yarn and cutesy beads.
Date: 3 November
Time: 3.00pm – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Incense Making
(Supported by Kyara Zen)
Originating from the Song dynasty, Chinese incense culture was developed alongside cultural art forms such as tea appreciation and calligraphy. Learn more about this ancient art form and try your hand at making your own incense.
Date: 4 November
Time: 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
DIY Coaster Making
Fancy yourself a cool new drink coaster for your home or office? Design, paint and varnish your personalised coaster inspired by the sights, sounds, and tastes of local culture.
Date: 4 & 11 November
Time: 3.00pm – 6.00pm (4 Nov); 1.00pm – 4.00pm (11 Nov)
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Design Your Own Tote Bag
Get crafty and personalise your very own canvas tote bag with paint and stencils featuring designs that are uniquely Singaporean. From the iconic dragon playground to colourful gem biscuits, there’s bound to be something for everyone in this fun-filled activity.
Date: 4 &10 November
Time: 2.00pm - 5.00pm (4 Nov); 1.00pm – 4.00pm (10 Nov)
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Get Inked! Temporary Tattoos
Bubble-gum sticker tattoos may be a thing of the past, but visitors can still get a dose of nostalgia with some temporary ink. Select from a range of local-inspired designs exclusively available at the Memorial Hall!
Date: 10 & 11 November
Time: 3.00pm – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Art Jamming
Grab a paintbrush and get ready to unleash your inner Picasso at this heritage-themed art jamming session! Challenge yourself to create your very own canvas masterpiece inspired by local culture, and bring home a new artistic souvenir.
Date: 10 & 11 November
Time: 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Programmes – Performances & More
Stories for Children
(Supported by the Speak Good English Movement and Speak Mandarin Campaign)
Take a walk down memory lane at this interactive storytelling session and learn valuable lessons through a selection of fantabulous tales! Embark on a literary adventure of your childhood with stories such as The Giving Tree, Mei Lin and the Reunion Dinner, and more. Each session will feature a different story and craft activity.
Date: 3, 4, 10, 11 November
Time: 12.00pm – 1.00pm; 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Cinema Alfresco
Enjoy a movie under the stars – bring along your picnic mats and catch an outdoor screening of iconic local films such as I Not Stupid (3 Nov), Homerun (4 Nov), Army Daze (10 Nov), and A Long, Long Time Ago (11 Nov)!
Date: 3, 4, 10, 11 November
Time: 2.00pm – 4.00pm (3 Nov); 5.00pm – 7.00pm (4, 10, 11 Nov)
Admission: No registration required
Evening Concert
Experience wonder and delight in this dynamic showcase of cultural and contemporary arts! Grab a hammock and enjoy a range of performances including live music, Capoeria Art Canarana, beat-boxing by Charles “Stitch” Wong, stand-up comedy by Marcus Chin, Rishi Budhrani, Fakka Fuzz, Jinx Yeo and more.
Date: 3, 4, 10, 11 November
Time: 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Programmes – Tours, Trails & Talks
Balestier Heritage & Food Trail
Embark on the Balestier Heritage & Food Trail to uncover the history of the precinct, while exploring heritage sites and sampling delicious local delights along the way!
Date: 3, 4, 10, 11 November
Time: 10.30am – 12.00pm
Admission: $5.00 (includes bottled water and a traditional snack). Register at peatix.com/user/1035460. Available in English or Mandarin.
Special Exhibition Talk: Cartoons and the Chinese Revolution (Chi)
A collaboration between Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and the Memorial Museum of 1911 Revolution in Guangzhou, “Between the Lines – The Chinese Cartoon Revolution” examines the links between the 1911 Revolution in China and the emergence of Chinese cartoons in Singapore. Ms Ouyang Danni, Curator of the Memorial Museum of 1911 Revolution, will share more about the exhibition theme and the cartoons originating from China which are featured in this exhibition.
Date: 3 November
Time: 3.00pm – 4.30pm
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis
Special Exhibition Talk: Searching for Dai Yinglang (Eng)
Dai Ying Lang (also known as Tai In Lang), a key figure in the early Chinese cartoon movement in Singapore, was a left-wing artist and intellectual who was active in multiple political scenes, as well as art and literary fields from the 1920s to 1940s in Malaya, Singapore and China. However, historical records of his presence in these socio-cultural zones remain fragmented and under-researched; furthermore, little is known of his life spent in post-1949 China. This talk resurfaces existing research on this Malayan-born artist and shares new information about the artist’s life and career after 1949.
Date: 4 November
Time: 10.00am – 11.30am
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Special Exhibition Talk: Huang Yao’s Niubizi Cartoons in the Republican Era (Chi)
An iconic cartoon character created by renowned artist and scholar Huang Yao in the 1930s, Niubizi was known throughout China, Malaya and Singapore as a vehicle for his creator’s satirical and humorous portrayals of social and political issues. The shifting roles of Niubizi, from comedian, political commentator, patriotic soldier to wanderer, reflect the changing historical and cultural landscapes of the times. In this public lecture, Mr Chua Soo Teng, Head of Archive of Huang Yao Foundation will share more about Huang Yao’s depictions of Niubizi in the Republican period and how they reflect the characteristics of the era.
Date: 10 November
Time: 10.00am – 11.30am
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Special Exhibition Talk: Huang Yao, Niubizi and Malaya (Chi)
An iconic cartoon character created by renowned artist and scholar Huang Yao in the 1930s, Niubizi was known throughout China, Malaya and Singapore as a vehicle for his creator’s satirical and humorous portrayals of social and political issues. In 1940, Huang Yao left China and spent much of his remaining life in various parts of Southeast Asia. In this public lecture, Mr. Chua Soo Teng, Head of Archive of Huang Yao Foundation will share how the artist’s Niubizi cartoons during this period reflect his attempt to adapt to a new life and the local culture of his new home, as well as the contributions he made to the Malayan education scene.
Date: 10 November
Time: 10.00am – 11.30am
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Special Exhibition Guided Tour
Through their satirical sketches, early Chinese cartoonists captured a declining China in the late 19th century and used them as weapons against a corrupt regime. Consequently, these cartoons served as agents of political change and became tools of the revolutionary movement to end imperial rule in China. Learn more about the history of political cartoons with our volunteer guides as they take you through the Memorial Hall’s special exhibition, Between the Lines – The Chinese Cartoon Revolution!
Date: 4, 10, 11 November
Time: 11.00am – 11.30am (Chi); 1.30pm – 2.00pm (Eng)
Admission: No registration required
Permanent Galleries Guided Tour
Take a tour of the Memorial Hall’s permanent galleries and learn more about Dr Sun Yat Sen and Singapore’s role in the 1911 Revolution.
Date: 3, 4, 10, 11 November
Time: 2.30pm – 3.30pm (Chi); 3.00pm – 4.00pm (Eng)
Admission: No registration required