Amongst the numerous River Hongbao (RHB) 2020 highlights are the “Prosperity in Packets: Hongbao Giving in Chinese Culture” Exhibition and the #HuntYourZodiac game. Incorporating tradition with technology,  visitors to RHB2020 can look forward to an interactive and immersive experience at The Float @ Marina Bay.

“Prosperity in Packets: Hongbao Giving in Chinese Culture” Exhibition

Co-curated by the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, students from the Singapore Chinese Girls’ School and the Lianhe Zaobao Student Correspondents’ Club, the exhibition not only traces the origins and evolution of the Lunar New Year tradition of hongbao or red packet gifting, it showcases how hongbaos are also given in other countries including Korea, Japan and Vietnam. The highlight of the exhibition is a showcase of over 400 hongbaos which include valuable collector’s items, such as the “oldest” red packets dating back to 1940s, wedding red packets, “red packets” from other cultures, and even folded screen-type red packets.

Early red packet for coins

“Red packets” from other cultures

Folded screen-type red packets

About 80 student docents from eight secondary schools will conduct guided tours during the exhibition. The schools include Anderson Secondary School, Catholic High School, CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School, Chung Cheng High School (Main), Hwa Chong Institution, River Valley High School, Singapore Chinese Girls’ School, and Xinmin Secondary School.

President of Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) and Chairman of RHB2020 Organising Committee Mr Tan Aik Hock shared during the press conference on 7th January 2020 that the different exhibition themes for RHB over the years have always appealed to the visitors who are keen to learn more about the history and culture of Chinese in Singapore, and have provided an excellent learning platform for the young.

Press conference panellists include (L-R): Mr Royston Lin (Curatorial Project Manager of Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall), Mr Perng Peck Seng (Secretary-General of SFCCA and Programme Chairman of RHB2020 Organising Committee), Mr Tan Aik Hock (President of SFCCA and Chairman of RHB2020 Organising Committee), Mr Jeremy Soo (Managing Director and Head of Consumer Banking Group (Singapore) at DBS Bank), and Ms Lim Bee Bee (Head of Marketing, Consumer Banking Group (Singapore) at DBS Bank)

Over the next three years (2021 to 2023), RHB will continue to collaborate with the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall to develop interesting exhibitions during the RHB event. This was encapsulated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was signed today between SFCCA on behalf of RHB Organising Committee, and the National Heritage Board (NHB), which manages the memorial hall.

At the MOU Signing Ceremony were (L-R): Ms Trudy Loh (Director, Heritage Institutions, NHB), Mr Alvin Tan (Deputy Chief Executive (Policy & Community), NHB), Mr Perng Peck Seng (Secretary-General of SFCCA and Programme Chairman of RHB2020 Organising Committee), and Mr Tan Aik Hock (President of SFCCA and Chairman of RHB2020 Organising Committee)

RHB’s First Virtual Game

From 23rd to 27th January, The Float @ Marina Bay will transform into a virtual playground for RHB visitors. Using their mobile devices, visitors will be able to embark on a virtual hunt to “catch” the 12 Chinese zodiac animals hidden around the premises, in exchange for prizes. This year, key sponsor POSB is working with Sqkii (the folks behind Singapore’s viral cash hunt, Hunt The Mouse) to develop #HuntYourZodiac, a virtual game specially designed for RHB 2020. #HuntYourZodiac integrates elements of augmented reality to build an immersive virtual experience where players can search for, hunt and encounter the zodiac animals via their mobile screens while walking around the site.

Visitors can win prizes through #HuntYourZodiac game

To play, visitors just need to log on to the game’s web application via Facebook. During the game, visual cues on the web application will indicate their proximity to a zodiac animal and inform them when one has been found. #HuntYourZodiac will also provide players with specialised Chinese horoscope predictions based not only on their zodiac animal, but also the zodiac element (metal, wood, fire, water, earth) corresponding to their birth date.


God of Fortune Huat Hour

POSB is also sponsoring “God of Fortune Huat Hour”, a daily hour-long red packet giveaway! The God of Fortune will appear at the POSB booth at a certain auspicious hour every night from 23rd to 27th January 2020, and gift visitors with red packets. To receive a red packet during “God of Fortune Huat Hour”, RHB visitors simply need to show that they have the DBS PayLah! app installed on their mobile phones.

RHB2020 is jointly organised by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Singapore Press Holdings’ Chinese Media Group, Singapore Tourism Board and People’s Association. RHB2020 will take the centre stage at The Float @ Marina Bay, from 23rd January 2020 to 1st February 2020.

For more information, please visit RHB2020’s official website http://riverhongbao.sg.

Read More:
– https://www.zaobao.com.sg/znews/singapore/story20200107-1019164
– https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/catch-your-zodiac-animal-at-river-hongbao
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RR_tKaQ-90 (CNA)
– https://seithi.mediacorp.sg/mobilet/singapore/river-hong-bao/4386568.html
https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/try-catching-virtual-chinese-zodiac-animal-river-hongbao-year
– https://www.8world.com/news/singapore/article/river-hongbao-opens-in-two-days-1027596
– https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/overseas-cultural-performances-to-feature-at-river-hongbao-2020