Things to do during Chinese New Year 2025
Still undecided on where to go for Chinese New Year 2025? Our ultimate guide to CNY 2025 activities is perfect for families, friends, and couples, offering a variety of exciting things to do from CNY Eve all the way through to the 15th day of the lunar new year!
| Things to do for CNY 2025 | CNY Eve | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3-15 |
| Take a walk in the Chinatown area (30 Dec – 27 Feb) – Free | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Savour a hotpot feast with family and friends (2 Jan – 27 Feb) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Take photos with Labubu and other Popmart characters at Changi Airport (10 Jan – 28 Feb) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Visit “Spring Blossoms: Legend of Lady White Snake” floral exhibition (17 Jan – 23 Feb) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Experience stunning light shows in Singapore’s Civic District (17 Jan – 6 Feb) – Free | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Take the kids on an educational visit to RWS’s S.E.A. Aquarium (22 Jan – 16 Feb) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Capture memorable family photos at the newly reopened Chinese Garden (24 Jan – 12 Feb) – Free | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Visit River Hongbao (27 Jan – 5 Feb) – Free | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ⚠️ |
| Watch a CNY movie at the cinema (28 Jan – 12 Feb) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Visit Istana Open House (2 Feb) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| Attend cultural events at Huayi Chinese Festival of the Arts (7 – 16 Feb) – Free | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| Watch Chingay Parade with family (7 – 8 Feb) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
Take a walk in the Chinatown area
No Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration in Singapore is truly complete without a visit to the lively Chinatown district.
This year, the streets along New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, South Bridge Road and Upper Cross Street will be adorned with stunning snake-themed lanterns, lights and sculptures. The captivating street light-up will run from 8 January 2025 to 27 February 2025, shining brightly from 7:00 pm to midnight daily (extended to 6:00 am on CNY Day 1, 29 January 2025).
After the reunion dinner on CNY Eve or visiting relatives on CNY Day 1 and 2, there’s nothing more special than enjoying a leisurely walk with your loved ones through the dazzling streets of Chinatown.
Other than strolling through the iconic area and capturing festive photos, a variety of exciting activities await, including CNY bazaars, cultural performances, art workshops, and a countdown event on CNY Eve.
Additionally, don’t forget to buy bak kwa from Chinatown’s bak kwa street as gifts for friends and in-laws ahead of time to steer clear of the crowds!
Savour a hotpot feast with family and friends
The tradition of hotpot in Chinese culture dates back over 2,000 years to the “Three Kingdoms period” (200–280 AD). This time-honoured practice has remained deeply embedded in Chinese communities, making hotpot a staple for nearly every celebration, including Chinese New Year.
Creating your own hotpot at home is simple, simply pick up Hai Di Lao 海底捞 hotpot seasoning for the broth, along with fresh vegetables, meats, seafood and sauces from the supermarket.
Alternatively, check out this list of hotel buffets, hotpot and steamboat buffet restaurants open during CNY 2025, where you can enjoy delicious meals, spend quality time and catch up with your family and friends.
Take photos with Labubu and other Popmart characters at Changi Airport
Photos via Jewel Changi Airport / Facebook
The Canopy Park on Level 5 of Jewel Changi Airport is being transformed with installations featuring popular Popmart characters like Labubu, Dimoo, Skullpanda and Molly, all decked out in a festive Chinese New Year theme. Tickets start from S$6 per person, giving you the chance to snap photos with these beloved cartoon characters, enjoy the Discovery Slides, and stroll through the indoor garden. It’s a perfect wet-weather activity for families to enjoy this CNY.
Additionally, lion dance and LED dragon dance performances will take place at free-to-access Shiseido Forest Valley, near the Jewel Rain Vortex indoor waterfall, on selected times from 28 January to 2 February 2025 (excluding 31 January 2025).
Visit "Spring Blossoms: Legend of Lady White Snake" floral exhibition
Photos via Gardens by the Bay / Facebook
The annual CNY floral display is back at Gardens by the Bay!
This year’s theme, “Spring Blossoms: Legend of Lady White Snake”, draws inspiration from one of China’s four great folklores, the Legend of the White Snake. The exhibition showcases over a thousand dahlias, including five new varieties, along with a captivating 4.5-metre tall sculpture of Madam White Snake at its heart.
Head to the Flower Dome this Chinese New Year for a fun, weather-proof outing with the whole family for a day of relaxation and festive enjoyment.
Experience stunning light shows in Singapore's Civic District
Photos via Light to Night Singapore / Facebook
As part of Singapore Art Week 2025, the Light to Night Festival will light up downtown Singapore with stunning light projection shows on the facades of iconic landmarks. Take a stroll through the city this Chinese New Year with your family and capture memorable photos with these mesmerising projections as the perfect backdrop.
Other than the light shows, the festival will feature numerous art exhibitions, an art fair, craft activities, and live performances. On selected nights, enjoy traditional lion dance performances and Getai shows, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Take the kids on an educational visit to RWS's S.E.A. Aquarium
Photos via Resorts World Sentosa / Website
If you have kids in the family, bring them to the S.E.A. Aquarium at Resort World Sentosa for an exciting and educational adventure this Chinese New Year!
Other than exploring the marine life and creatures at the aquarium, visitors can enjoy performances of spring melodies by the Chinese ensemble Ding Yi, marine-themed craft workshops, meet-and-greets with the Manta mascot, and the captivating underwater dragon dance.
It’s also a great backup plan for when the weather gets rainy during CNY this year.
Capture memorable family photos at the newly reopened Chinese Garden
Photos via NParks / Facebook
Traditionally a popular spot for family photos during Chinese New Year, the Chinese Garden returns this year with festive decorations, marking its first celebration after five years of extensive renovation.
The public garden will showcase New Year-inspired landscaping, enhanced with festive lantern displays and decorations surrounding iconic landmarks such as the Twin Pagoda, Grand Arch and Stoneboat.
Visit River Hongbao
River Hongbao 2025 (春到河畔 2025), the 39th edition of Singapore’s flagship Chinese New Year celebration since 1987, will return to Gardens by the Bay for the fifth consecutive year from 27 January to 5 February 2025.
Apart from the iconic God of Fortune and snake-themed lanterns that offer plenty of photo opportunities, the event will feature nightly performances and activities throughout its 10-day run. A food fair and carnival, complete with exciting amusement rides, will also be available for visitors.
For the second year in a row, firecrackers will light up the first three nights of the festival, ushering in the arrival of the Year of the Snake.
To top it off, the Borealis Northern Lights show at the Supertree Grove will continue on Monday, Saturday and Sunday, though with a shorter runtime. Be sure to mark your calendars and experience this unique light and sound display by Swiss artist Dan Acher, set against the backdrop of CNY festivities.
Watch a CNY movie at the cinema (2025新春贺岁片)
Photos via MM2 Entertainment Singapore / Facebook
Enjoy a diverse selection of films this Chinese New Year, from comedy and fantasy to drama, horror, and family fun!
Catch the epic Chinese blockbuster “Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force (封神第二部：战火西岐)”, the second installment in the fantasy franchise, featuring top Chinese stars Huang Bo 黄渤, Yu Shi 于适, Na Er Na Xi 那尔那茜, Chen Mu Chi 陈牧驰, and Fei Xiang 费翔. The movie will begin screening on CNY Day 1, in sync with its release in Mainland China.
For a good laugh, enjoy “I Want To Be Boss (Ai拼才会赢)”, starring local comedians Jack Neo 梁智强, Henry Thia 程旭辉, Aileen Tan 陈丽贞, and Patricia Mok 莫小玲. Or dive into the festive humor of “Detective 1900 (唐探1900)”, with an all-star cast including Wang Baoqiang 王宝强, Liu Haoran 刘昊然, Chow Yun Fat 周润发, and Bai Ke 白客.
Photos via J Team Productions / Facebook
Be captivated by the powerful drama Lee, starring Oscar-winner Kate Winslet, or experience the spine-chilling thrills of the horror film Wolf Man. For a heartwarming family outing, join Paddington on his latest adventure in Paddington in Peru.
There’s truly something for everyone this CNY!
Visit Istana Open House
As one of the five open houses held annually, the Istana will welcome the public on Day 5 of Chinese New Year, 2 February 2025 (Sunday), from 8:30am to 6:00pm.
Visitors can not only explore the official residence and office of Singapore’s President, but also immerse themselves in a wide range of activities celebrating the festive occasion. These include captivating cultural dance and music performances, exhilarating lion dance shows, a hands-on Chinese calligraphy workshop, nostalgic old-school Singaporean games like five stones, Paralympic sports try-outs, and insightful guided tours.
Attend cultural events at Huayi Chinese Festival of the Arts
Arts and culture enthusiasts are in for a treat at The Esplanade from 7 to 16 February 2025.
The 10-day Chinese Arts Festival will feature twenty exciting events, ranging from concerts, workshops, Teochew opera and theatre performances, to storytelling sessions and cultural dance performances.
A major highlight of this year’s festival is a free concert by the acclaimed Taiwanese Golden Melody Award-winning indie band, Lilium 百合花.
Don’t miss out on this vibrant celebration of Chinese arts and culture this festive season!
Watch Chingay Parade with family
Photos via Chingay / Facebook
The Chingay Parade, a celebration of Chinese New Year and a showcase of Singapore’s multicultural heritage, will be held in conjunction with SG60, a year-long series of events commemorating Singapore’s 60th birthday.
This year’s parade will feature the dazzling Chingay floats (illuminated displays on moving vehicles), live performances, and multicultural street acts, all celebrating Singapore’s rich food culture. Along with these exciting highlights, the parade promises brand-new immersive experiences, making it a truly memorable celebration.
The event will be held in person at the F1 Pit Building on 7 and 8 February 2025, with tickets starting at S$20. For those unable to attend, a partial display of the parade floats will be showcased in the heartlands after the event.
Where to pray during Chinese New Year 2025
If you’re looking to experience Chinese New Year the traditional Singaporean way, visit a temple to pray or observe others as they do!
Many Singaporeans visit temples on Chinese New Year’s Eve or Day 1 of CNY to offer prayers for wealth, career success, health, or marriage for the whole year.
We’ve included key information on praying at the popular Si Beh Lor Guan Yin Temple 四马路观音庙 and praying to Tai Sui at various shrines and temples across Singapore during CNY 2025.
| Shrines and temples to pray at during CNY 2025 | CNY Eve | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3-15 |
| Pray at Waterloo Street’s Guanyin Temple (28 Jan – 12 Feb) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Pray to Tai Sui for good luck in the new year (29 Jan – 28 Feb) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Pray at Waterloo Street's Guanyin Temple
It is a tradition for devotees of Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple 四马路观音堂 (also colloquially known as Waterloo Guanyin Temple or Si Beh Lor Guanyin Temple) to queue outside the temple on CNY Eve to offer the first incense of the year as the clock strikes midnight. This ritual is believed to bring prosperity for the year ahead, with the first person to place their incense stick in the urn thought to usher in good fortune. However, this practice has been cancelled for the past four years and will again be unavailable for the fifth consecutive year.
The following are the operating hours of the temple from CNY Eve to CNY Day 2:
- 28 January 2025 (Tuesday) / CNY Eve: 7:00am – 6:30pm
- 29 – 30 January 2025 (Wednesday – Thursday) / CNY Day 1 & 2: 7:00am – 6:30pm
Activities such as drawing divination sticks (求签), seeking stamps, amulets and flowers (盖平安印 / 求平安符 / 请平安花) will be unavailable from CNY Eve to CNY Day 3, 28 – 31 January 2025 (Tuesday – Friday). These activities will resume as usual starting from CNY Day 4, on 1 February 2025 (Saturday).
Pray to Tai Sui for good luck in the new year
According to Taoism tradition, those whose zodiac signs clashes with the Tai Sui of the year will face disturbances for the whole year.
As such, from the first day of the Chinese New Year, it is a custom for worshippers with zodiac signs that clash with Tai Sui to perform a ritual known as An Tai Sui (安太岁) at the shrines and temples to seek protection from Tai Sui. In 2025, these zodiac signs are Snake, Pig, Tiger, Monkey and Dragon.
Many Taoist shrines across Singapore offer this service during this festive period. If you are born in the year of Snake, Pig, Tiger, Monkey and Dragon, you will need to pray to Tai Sui in 2025. If you are not, you can also pray to Tai Sui for a peaceful and healthy year.
