Celebrating the Year of the Dragon
Experience Chinese New Year in Singapore with Vibrant Celebrations and Luxe Stays
By Jessica Montevago
Singapore will usher in the Year of the Dragon during Chinese New Year celebrations in February, where travelers can immerse themselves in centuries-old traditions amid the backdrop of a modern metropolis.
Visitors should be sure to visit the historic enclave of Chinatown, where vibrant red lanterns, ornaments, and banners will transform the district’s streets. Then, an official light-up ceremony will see over 80,000 LED lights illuminate the neighborhood. The celebrations continue with live stage shows and bustling markets where vendors sell traditional snacks and Lunar New Year souvenirs.
Dragons, a symbol of good luck and strength, will be the centerpiece at the annual Chinese New Year-themed floral display at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore’s famed futuristic nature park. The sculptures will be surrounded by more than a thousand dahlias of varied shapes, sizes, and colors. The Dahlia Dreams exhibit will be on display through February 26 at the garden’s Flower Dome—a conservatory that holds the Guinness World Record for the largest glass greenhouse.
Buddhist Temple with red lanterns in Chinatown, Singapore
A vital part of Singapore’s cultural celebrations is the Chingay Parade. It began in 1973 as a street parade to celebrate the Chinese New Year but has since evolved as a symbol of the country’s unity and creativity. Alongside the 17 community floats, the extravagant event will also feature street performers, dancers, dancing dragons, acrobats, and artists. Taking place on February 23 and 24, the parade’s theme this year is ‘Blossom’.
New and Noteworthy Hotels
Hilton’s Conrad Singapore Orchard recently reopened with 445 refurbished guestrooms. The spacious guestrooms, which include 46 suites with double terraces, are bathed in natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. Skylight also trickles into the lobby through a soaring 12-story atrium. The hotel is home to an array of food and beverage options, including Italian restaurant Basilico and the Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant Summer Palace. Additional amenities include meeting and event spaces, a contemporary executive lounge, a pet-friendly program and a fully equipped fitness center and pool. The hotel can be reached within a half-hour’s drive from Singapore Changi Airport and is near the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Robertson House by The Crest Collection made its debut at the start of the New Year. Located along the iconic Singapore River, the hotel is inspired by old-world colonial charm reflecting Singapore’s time as a bustling trade hub. The motif carries over to the all-day dining restaurant and bar, Entrepôt, which pays homage to Singapore’s history as a port city in its design and east-meets-west menu. Located on the top floor of the hotel is the 1823 Reading Room, which serves as a club lounge. Here, guests can find a curated library with exclusive vintage books and titles. The hotel’s other amenities include an outdoor swimming pool and poolside bar, as well as an outdoor and indoor gym.
The Serangoon House, Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is situated in the cultural enclave Little India. In the lobby, guests are greeted by porcelain chandeliers, green and white marble mosaic flooring, and wallpaper with scenes from colonial India. The 90 rooms of Serangoon House are adorned with bespoke double-tiered canopy beds that can be transformed into deluxe two-tiered beds that can accommodate six when required. The flavors of India are the star of the hotel’s restaurant, GupShup, where diners can feast on the cultural delicacies from Delhi to Bombay to Punjab.
Gardens by the Bay
Singapore’s holidays and festivities happen to align with its dry season, welcoming low humidity and sunshine, which lasts from February to April, coupled with new luxury hotels on the market, make it a prime time to visit the island nation.
Book these hotels, and more, using the TSA rate code in the GDS. Non-GDS users can book these hotels using tripXpress.
Banner photo: Singapore Skyline
