(Public Advisory, last updated 30 January 2020,1415hr)
Dear visitors, we are monitoring the Wuhan Coronavirus situation closely. As at 30 January 2020, the Wan Qing Festival of Spring will proceed as planned on 1 and 2 February 2020.
However, in consultation with our partners and volunteers, there will be some changes in programming. We will also take into consideration the latest situation as advised by MOH, and update if there are further changes to the event.
We urge our museum visitors to monitor their health closely during this period. Please take precautions advised by MOH, including observing personal hygiene and seeing a doctor if unwell.
We seek your understanding and support for a safe and enjoyable experience during Wan Qing Festival of Spring.
Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2020
Usher in the Year of the Rat at the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall’s Lunar New Year celebrations! Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2020 presents an exciting line-up of festive offerings suitable for all ages, including auspicious lion and dragon dance performances, Chinese painting and drumming workshops, heritage tours and trails, and craft activities for the little ones. Join the Memorial Hall’s signature mass lohei and toss to bountiful luck and prosperity, get your zodiac predictions for the new year, enjoy an evening concert of contemporary and traditional performing arts, and more.
Our festive art installations also promise to make for great photo moments with friends and family. Produced by Hong Kong collectible label, BigBoysToys, in collaboration with the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, “Lunar Guardians” is an outdoor installation that pays homage to the ancient Chinese art of lion dance. Featuring two lion dance-inspired sculptures designed in a contemporary “mecha” anime style, this installation juxtaposes tradition with modernity, and encourages conversations about the significance and evolution of traditions in our rapidly changing world. This installation will be on display on the lawn of the memorial hall from 4 January until 9 February 2020.
Activities are free unless otherwise stated.
Programmes
Festival Highlight – Auspicious Lion Dance Performances
Lion dance performances are a common sight during Lunar New Year as they are believed to be bearers of good luck. Revel in the festivities and usher in the Year of the Rat at the Memorial Hall with exciting lion dance performances throughout the festive season!
Date: 25 January; 1 & 2 February
Time: 10.15am (25 Jan), 6.00pm (1 Feb), 7.00pm (2 Feb)
Admission: No registration required
Festival Highlight – Festival of Spring Prosperity Toss(Cancelled)
(Supported by Kwong Cheong Thye)
Lunar New Year festivities are not complete without the tossing of yusheng for good fortune. Also known as Lo Hei in Cantonese, it is believed that the higher you toss the yusheng, the better your prospects and fortune in the year ahead. Join over 200 visitors from all walks of life in the Memorial Hall’s signature mass outdoor Lo Hei and toss to bountiful luck and prosperity for the Lunar New Year!
Date: 1 February
Time: 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Balestier Heritage Trail
Embark on our best-selling Balestier Heritage Trail to uncover the rich history and origins of Balestier from as early as 1835. From landmarks like the Maha Sasanaramsi Burmese Buddhist Temple to heritage stops such as Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory, delve into the architectural and cultural developments of Balestier and discover the unknown stories behind these places.
Date: 1 (English) & 2 (Chinese) February (Chinese-Cancelled)
Time: 10.30am – 12.00pm
Admission: $5.00. Register at wanqingyuan.peatix.com
Fringe Activity: Balloon Art
Fancy yourself a colourful crown, sword, or flower? Spot our roving balloon artist and bring home a festive souvenir!
Date: 1 & 2 February
Time: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Fringe Activity: God of Fortune
Rub shoulders and snap a photo with our God of Fortune this Lunar New Year for blessings of luck, wealth and prosperity.
Date: 1 & 2 February
Time: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Fringe Activity: Glitter Tattoo
Jazz up your Lunar New Year outfit with a fun glitter tattoo! Choose from a range of unique designs suitable for all ages.
Date: 1 & 2 February
Time: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Fringe Activity: Festive Fan Origami
Get creative in this fun drop-in craft activity as you learn how to fold a Chinese hand fan – a perfect accessory for our sunny climate! Decorate your fan with motifs, stickers, and more for a personalised touch.
Date: 1 & 2 February
Time: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Stories for Children
(Supported by the Speak Good English Movement and Speak Mandarin Campaign)
Discover the legends and myths behind Lunar New Year in our popular storytelling sessions conducted by local authors and veteran storytellers. Join this interactive storytelling session and learn more about why the Chinese celebrate festive occasions with lion dance performances, and other traditional customs of the Lunar New Year! Each session will feature a different story and craft activity.
Date: 1 & 2 February
Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm (Chinese)(Chinese session on 2nd Feb - Cancelled); 5.00pm – 6.00pm (English)
Admission: No registration required
‘Lunar Guardians’ Sketching Workshop (Cancelled)
(Supported by Bigboystoys)
Produced by Hong Kong collectible label, BigBoysToys, the memorial hall’s festive art installation, “Lunar Guardians” pays homage to the ancient Chinese art of lion dance. Featuring two lion dance-inspired sculptures designed in a contemporary “mecha” anime style, this installation juxtaposes tradition with modernity, and encourages conversations about the significance and evolution of traditions in our rapidly changing world. Join this fun sketching workshop by Hongkong artist, Foon Wong and learn how to draw your very own “Lunar Guardian”!
Date: 1 & 2 February
Time: 11.00am – 12.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Children’s Lion Dance Workshop
(Supported by Martial House)
Get into the festive spirit with this interactive children’s lion dance workshop that promises unforgettable fun for the whole family! Learn basic movements from expert instructors, have fun playing the cymbals and drums, and discover the origin stories of the art of lion dance.
Date: 1 February
Time: 4.30pm – 5.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Festive Chinese Drums Workshop
(Supported by Martial House)
Dong dong chiang, it’s time to celebrate Lunar New Year! Drum up a storm in this energetic musical workshop – team up with your child and learn basic drumming techniques used for Chinese percussion instruments and experience a variety of rhythms and beats.
Date: 2 February
Time: 4.30pm – 5.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Fun with Chinese Ink Painting Workshop
(Supported by Martial House)
Usher in the festival of spring by creating beautiful Chinese ink paintings for your home! Join us in this immersive art workshop, where participants will learn basic painting techniques and have fun expressing themselves through the ancient art of Chinese ink painting.
Date: 2 February
Time: 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Craft Station: Red Packet Origami
(Supported by Wearable Craft)
No Lunar New Year celebration is complete without red packets, which connote blessings of good fortune, abundance, and bountiful wealth. Have fun folding creating origami art pieces using colourful red packets for an even more auspicious year ahead!
Date: 1 February
Time: 11.00am – 2.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Craft Station: Make Your Own Chinese Seal
Before signatures became a popular and widely-accepted method of identification, the ancient Chinese used seals or stamps to identify themselves in personal letters or documents. These seals typically featured either the writer’s full or family names. Embark on a journey into the past and have fun creating your very own personalised Chinese seal!
Date: 1 February
Time: 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Craft Station: Chinese Knot Weaving
(Supported by Wearable Craft)
Chinese knots first began as a form of folk art in the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279 AD), with the word ‘knot’ translating directly to mean vigour, harmony, and unification. Chinese knots were therefore often gifted to symbolise blessings and best wishes for the recipient. Try your hand at weaving your own Chinese knot for a blessed Lunar New Year!
Date: 2 February
Time: 11.00am – 2.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Craft Station: Make Your Own Zodiac Door Hanger
Knock, knock! Who’s there? Get crafty as you design your own festive zodiac door hanger and learn more about the different animals signs of the Chinese zodiac calendar!
Date: 2 February
Time: 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Sharing Session: Fengshui Predictions for 2020
(Supported by Fengshui Master Lim)
Find out what the Year of the Rat has in store for you! Regardless of your Chinese zodiac sign, learn how to increase your personal harmony, luck and happiness in this geomancy talk led by Master Eric Lim.
Date: 2 February
Time: 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required, conducted in English
Evening Concert
Experience wonder and delight in this dynamic showcase of cultural and contemporary arts! Catch an exciting selection of iconic Chinese performing arts such as traditional lion dance performances, Chinese drums, face-changing, and more.
Date: 1 & 2 February
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Programmes: Other Happenings
Special Exhibition Guided Tour: “From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore”
Learn more about the history of early Chinese photography studios in Singapore as our volunteer guides take you through the Memorial Hall’s special exhibition, “From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore”. This exhibition examines how the migration of skilled Chinese artisans and professionals, such as painters and photographers, led to the proliferation of photography studios in the region.
Date: 1 & 2 February
Time: 10.30am – 11.30am (Chinese)（Chinese - Cancelled); 1.30pm – 2.30pm (English)
Admission: No registration required
Permanent Galleries Guided Tour
Join us for a guided tour of Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and hear the stories behind this century-old villa that trace Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s revolutionary activities in Southeast Asia. Gain valuable insights on the impact of the 1911 Revolution on Singapore, as well as Singapore’s contributions to the Revolution.
Date: 1 & 2 February
Time: 2.30pm – 3.30pm (Chinese)（Chinese - Cancelled); 3.00pm – 4.00pm (English)
Admission: No registration required
Sharing Session: Preserving Photographs and History: Through the Lens of Paper Conservators
(Supported by Ms. Mariko Watanabe-Hirano and Mr. Tay Jam Meng)
Learn more about the history of photography, the differences between albumen prints and gelatin silver prints and how to tell them apart in this special sharing session by professional paper conservators. This sharing session will also shed light on the intricacies of the delicate processes behind photograph conservation through actual case studies of treatment performed on photographs in the From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studio in Singapore special exhibition.
Date: 1 February
Time: 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required