Chinese New Year 2010 @ Singapore

Although Chinese New Year is celebrated on 14 February 2010, you’ll be pleased to know that the merriment in Singapore starts much earlier with an extravagant line-up of events.

Chinatown is a key focal point for Chinese New Year festivities in the few weeks leading up to Chinese New Year and a few weeks following that. You can immerse in the entire Chinese cultural experience and experience the festive hustle and bustle simply by walking the streets of Chinatown. Chinatown is also where local Chinese congregate year after year to shop for the necessary new year items for the home and to soak in the festive atmosphere.

CNY decoration along Chinatown

Chinatown CNY Celebration rehearsal

the fire juggler

the tiger robots, made by Singapore Polytechnic’s students

Chinatown CNY Celebration

CNY decorations at AMK Hub

CNY decorations at Chinatown Point

The Southern Ridges

The Southern Ridges comprises 9 km of green, open spaces spanning the hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park. It is an area steeped in history and is home to some of nature’s greatest gifts of flora and fauna. It is also one of the best spots in Singapore to catch panoramic views of the city, harbour and the Southern Islands. The main highlights of the Southern Ridges are the Forest Walk and Canopy Walk. Here, you can see a rich variety of flora and fauna. You can also observe birds in their natural habitats. Walk on the Ridges and take beautiful photos of wild flowers and birds.

HortPark

HortPark is the Gardening Hub and Southeast Asia’s first one-stop centre for gardening-related activities in a park setting. HortPark is a gardening showcase centre made possible by 80 key industry partners from the local horticulture and landscape industry coming together to create a beautiful public community space. It comprises 40 showcase gardens created by several individuals and companies, and offers a myriad of exciting ideas and suppliers’ contacts for gardening enthusiasts. The gardening hub has garnered several distinguished architectural awards to date, most notably the International Architectural Award 2008 awarded by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design.

Alexandra Arch

Alexandra Arch is a 80m long bridge with unique architecture, an opened leaf, with its curved deck intersecting an arch that is tilted at a 70-degree angle that across Alexandra Road. Alexandra Arch is lit up by LED lights at night.

Forest Walk

The Forest Walk meanders through some 50 metres through the secondary forest of Telok Blangah Hill and connects to Alexandra Arch. There are two trails on the Forest Walk: the Elevated Walkway and the Earth trail.

The Elevated Walkway, accessed by the metal bridge, offers you the experience of walking through the secondary forest of Telok Blangah Hill at eye-level with the forest canopy. This is an excellent platform for spotting birds, dragonflies and butterflies. If you prefer a more rugged experience and hanker after a closer experience with wildlife in the area, embark on the Earth Trail. Steps have been built at some parts of the trail in view of the steep terrain. The dense secondary forest found here, the Adinandra Belukar, is home to Singapore’s rich biodiversity.

City view taken from Telok Belangah Hill

Hilltop Walk

Hilltop Walk runs through Telok Blangah Hill Park. This park was once a gathering place for trading communities that thrived in the area in the early nineteenth century. Make your way to the Terrace Garden at the top of the park and stop for a moment to enjoy a stunning 360-degree view of Singapore and the decks of bougainvillea at the Garden.

Henderson Waves

At 36m above Henderson Road, Henderson Waves is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore with 274 metre-long connecting Mount Faber Park and Telok Blangah Hill Park.  The bridge is also worth visiting for its artistic, distinctive wave-like structure consisting of a series of undulating curved “ribs”. These “ribs” also double up as alcoves providing shelter to the public. The bridge takes on a different look at night, with the wave-form illuminated with attractive LED light.

Faber Trail

Faber Walk, of which many parts are sheltered, meanders through Mount Faber Park and ends at the start of Henderson Waves. The slopes of this 56-hectare park are covered by dense secondary rain forest, and are home to an amazing array of flora and fauna. The trail, which takes you on a loop around the peak of Mount Faber Hill, offers spectacular views of the southern part of Singapore and the Southern Islands. You can catch sight of passing ocean liners and cruise ships in the far distance. At night, the park is one of the more popular romantic spots on the island. Join several couples and families in enjoying breathtaking sights of the city’s twinkling lights.

City view taken from Mount Faber Park

Marang Trail

The Marang Trail covers an elevation of 70 metres (or the equivalent of a 24-storey building) if you start from Marang Road. This trail may not be suitable for young children, the elderly and the less fit. Embark on this walk of steps and shaded footpaths that pave the way to beautiful sights and sounds of the secondary forest. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature as you jog or walk on this trail. Listen out for loud chirping sounds of cicadas that break the silence of the forest. At the top of the Trail is the Jewel Box. Chill out with a beer or have an ice cream as you enjoy a panoramic view of the harbour and southern islands. The Marang Trail is deliberately unlit after dark to minimize disturbance to nocturnal life in the forest. Do bring along a torch and take extra precautions if you wish to walk on this trail after dark.