Chinese New Year is Here! A Calendar of Events in Penang and Singapore.

Photo by Eugene Tang / Singaporesights.com

The Chinese New Year celebrations in Penang (Malaysia) and in Singapore are heating up, with the eve of of the Year of the Dragon coming on January 22 (January 23 is the official first day of the Chinese New Year). Plan your trip calendars around the following important days:

• January 21-29 - Singapore River Hong Bao Carnival, Singapore.
  Deriving its name from the traditional red packets of money given by older Chinese to unmarried younger relatives during Chinese New Year, the Singapore River Hong Bao carnival is a celebration of Chinese culture on the Singapore riverside, featuring nightly cultural performances, adaptations of traditional Chinese artwork, and giant lanterns fashioned after popular Singapore landmarks.
• January 22 - Chinese New Year Countdown, Singapore.
  Join Singapore's locals and local celebrities along Chinatown's Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road, as they ring in the Chinese New Year with firecrackers and fireworks.

• January 22 - My Astro CNY Countdown Gala, Penang.
  Penang's official kick-off of the year's Chinese New Year festivities takes place at Penang City Hall and at the Esplanade, with a lion dance, dance numbers, and Chingay show to enliven the festivities.
• January 28 - Chinese New Year Cultural and Heritage Celebration, Penang.
  Roam the streets of George Town, enjoy lion dances and Chingay parades, and try the food served along street stalls. Chulia St., Armenian St., Soo Hong Lane, Ah Quee St., Acheen St., Cannon St., Kampung Kolam and Jalan Kapitan Keling become the venue for Penang's biggest New Year cultural celebration, held from 3pm to 12 midnight.
• January 28 - Chor Soo Kong Birthday, Penang.
  A smoky refuge of wild snakes, the Penang Snake Temple celebrates the birthday of its patron, the Chinese deity Chor Soo Kong, on this day.
• January 30 - Hokkien New Year (Thni Kong Seh), Penang.
  The Hokkien celebrate their clan's rescue from total eradication on the Hokkien New Year, with a big feast on the Chew Jetty.
• Feb 3-4 - Chingay Parade, Singapore.
  This annual parade now takes place in front of the Singapore Formula One Pit Building; a "costume and masquerade" extravaganza that now involves over 7,400 performers from Singapore, China, Denmark, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. This year, Chingay takes place across two parade days.
• February 5 - Chinatown Yuan Xiao Jie, Singapore.
  The last day of Chinese New Year sees festivities around Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road.

Look at the official schedules in Penang and in Singapore for more details, or consult our articles about the Chinese New Year celebrations in Penang (Malaysia) and in Singapore.