Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore more lively than in Taiwan – 3,100 lanterns light up Chinatown
▲ One of the main lantern display areas on New Bridge Road in Chinatown.
Reported and photographed by Cai Wenjun, journalist
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, it’s not just in Taiwan where festive spirit is in the air — Singapore’s Chinatown is also brimming with holiday cheer. Visitors to Singapore right now can see over 3,000 colorful lanterns hanging along several main streets in Chinatown, complementing the already vibrant facades of the historic buildings. This makes the area, a hub for the Chinese community, even more captivating both during the day and at night.
Local guide Dick said that every year during major traditional Chinese festivals, Chinatown designs a variety of themed lanterns to enhance the festive atmosphere, which is no less lively than other places. Aside from the Mid-Autumn Festival, large red lanterns are also hung high during Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival.
▲ % A key lantern display zone on Eu Tong Sen Street.
The Chinatown Kreta Ayer Citizens’ Consultative Committee, which organized this year’s Mid-Autumn lantern displays, stated:This year’s lanterns are mainly displayed along key streets such as New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, and South Bridge Road. The approximately 3,100 lanterns that adorn the Chinatown sky were created by 36 artists over three months, using Singapore’s national flower — the orchid — along with lilies, peonies, Bauhinia, narcissus, and frangipani. Among them, the lantern display on New Bridge Road is the longest, stretching all the way from Chinatown to Outram Park MRT Station — a total of 600 meters — with the main lantern installed at the intersection along this stretch.
To capture the street-wide sea of lanterns from different angles, the reporter suggests taking the A exit (Singapore MRT exits are labeled A, B, C, etc.) from the Chinatown MRT station, turning left, and walking up the overhead bridge located behind the station. Not only can you admire the glowing lanterns from afar at night, but the bridge also features Chinese-style pavilions where visitors can sit and enjoy the view.
% Another great spot to view the lantern-lined street is from another perspective along the pedestrian walkway.
Aside from admiring the lanterns, how do locals celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? Local resident Ms. Chen said that unlike in Taiwan, where people often gather for barbecues, most Chinese Singaporeans spend the day with family, eating mooncakes, drinking tea, chatting, or having meals together to celebrate a reunion-filled Mid-Autumn night.
The Chinatown Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival runs from now until September 28. Visitors are advised to go in the late afternoon or early evening to explore famous sites like the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, Sri Mariamman Temple, and sample diverse international snacks in the food streets, then stay to watch the spectacular moment when thousands of lanterns are lit up as night falls.
% Located near the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in the area.
% Also near the pedestrian walkway in the area, although not within the main lantern zone, it is only 80 meters away and adjacent to Pagoda Street, where Sri Mariamman Temple is located.
Chinatown Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival
Exhibition period: Now until September 28
Transportation: Take the MRT North East Line to Chinatown Station. Exit A leads directly into the Chinatown Night Market, with the New Bridge Road lantern area just behind.
Lantern lighting hours: Sunday to Thursday, 7:00 PM to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 7:00 PM to 2:00 AM the next day
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