River Hongbao is back for its 39th edition, promising a spectacular celebration to welcome the Year of the Snake. As one of Singapore’s most beloved and long-standing Chinese New Year traditions, this mega scale, iconic event continues to captivate with its vibrant blend of culture, history, and festivities.
Running for 10 days from 27 January to 5 February 2025, the event marks its fifth consecutive year at Gardens by the Bay. On the first two days of the event on 27 and 28 January, festivities will begin at 6:30 PM. For the remainder of the period, the event will begin from 2:30 PM.
River Hongbao 2025 will be among the first major events celebrating SG60, paying tribute to Singapore’s 60 years of independence.
Mr Chua Kee Seng, President of the SFCCA and Chairman of the River Hongbao 2024 Organizing Committee, unveiled the event highlights at the press conference.
Mr Chua Kee Seng, President of the SFCCA and Chairman of the River Hongbao 2024 Organizing Committee, unveiled the event highlights at the press conference on 2 January, encouraging citizens to participate with their families. The highlights include impressive SG60-themed large scale lantern displays, as well as stunning firecracker showcases. Sixty strands of firecrackers will light up the night on opening day at The Meadow, with 30 strands following on the second and third evenings, bringing the excitement of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations to life. Not to be missed is the all-time favourite God of Fortune lantern display (包你有钱, “bao ni you qian”) to wish visitors a prosperous Year of the Snake.
God of Fortune
Visitors can immerse themselves in this year’s exhibition, titled “Greetings from Afar: Chinese Remittance Letters”. Early Chinese migrants who ventured abroad to earn a living would send remittance letters, made up of letters and money, to their families back in China. This exhibition is a collaboration between the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall (Singapore) and Fujian Provincial Archives of China. Featuring artefacts and interactive elements, this exhibition showcases the broad historical and cultural significance of remittance letters, as well as the emotional, personal stories of early Chinese migrants in Singapore, particularly through Chinese New Year remittance letters from the 20th century.
“Greetings from Afar: Chinese Remittance Letters” Exhibition
Complementing the festivities of River Hongbao is Gardens by the Bay’s Chinese New Year floral display. This year, the ‘Spring Blossoms’ floral display features the theme of Legend of the White Snake, created in collaboration with leading China landscaping company Beijing Florascape.
Drawing inspiration from the eponymous beloved Chinese folktale, the centrepiece of ‘Spring Blossoms’ is a striking 4.5m-tall floral rendition of the protagonist Madam White Snake, crafted through mosaiculture. Mosaiculture is a sophisticated horticultural art form that utilises plants to create detailed, three-dimensional figures.
Dahlias—a signature flower of the Gardens’ Chinese New Year floral displays through the years—will feature prominently in ‘Spring Blossoms’, with over 1,000 blooms including five new varieties.
Continuing the tradition of giving back, guests can toss coins at the Wishing Heart lantern set to make their wishes. Proceeds from this activity will go to Viriya Community Services (VCS), a non-profit organisation that has been serving the community for over 20 years. VCS is dedicated to promoting love beyond self and enhancing lives through family support, mental health services, and specialised programmes.
Visitors can toss coins at blessing bells
A specially curated 5-episode skit, “和” (Harmony), is also being launched this year. This heartwarming series tells the story of a young boy discovering the importance of family, traditions, and unity during Chinese New Year through his interactions with his Ah Ma. Visitors can enjoy this touching story on River Hongbao’s social media channels.
Adding to the excitement, visitors can take part in a series of engaging contests and activities, including the Festive Costume Contest, CNY Family Tradition Photo Contest, Spot the Lantern Challenge, RHB Bingo Contest and DIY Lantern Contest. Each activity celebrates creativity, family traditions, and community engagement, with e-voucher prizes ranging from $10 to $100 to be won. The Retro Snake Game, available on the River Hongbao website, brings a touch of nostalgia with a festive twist. Participants who achieve high scores can enter weekly lucky draws to win $20 e-vouchers.
Visitors can also look forward to captivating nightly performances featuring a star-studded lineup of local talents. The schedule includes celebrated artists such as Joanna Dong, who will enchant audiences with her soulful renditions, Shigga Shay, delivering high-energy rap performances and singer-songwriter shazza.
Food lovers won’t be disappointed either, with the bustling Food Street serving up a delightful spread of local and international dishes, ensuring every visitor leaves with full hearts and satisfied palates. Visitors can also enjoy thrilling amusement rides, including the Double-Storey Horse Carousel – the only one of its kind in Singapore – as well as the Euro Swing and new additions like the Space Shuttle and Mini Viking.
For more details, please visit the official website: https://riverhongbao.sg/ or follow the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations’ social media platforms.
