Location: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Date: 2 Nov - 3 Nov and 9 Nov - 10 Nov 2019
Hour: 10 am – 9 pm
Admission: Free
*Updated: 8 Nov 2019
What is happening?
It’s time for the annual Wan Qing CultureFest and the 2019 edition has so much to offer, from guided tours, heritage trail and exhibitions to lively performances, hands-on activities and games! The festival provides an immersive way to learn more about the different aspects of the Chinese cultural heritage, such as the social practices, rituals and festivals, performing arts, as well as the oral traditions and expression.
Go on a Heritage Hunt around the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall - have fun learning about the Chinese culture through 6 activity stations and you can even redeem a free gift after completing the stations!
You can try your hand at the various Interactive Stations, from Chinese Paper Cutting, Dragon Dance Puppet, Origami Wedding Favour Box, and DIY Chinese Opera Mask, to making your own Malt Candy, Kacang Puteh and even a bird’s nest drink.
Well, not really frying the Kacang Puteh but making those papercones to fill up with your favourite kacangs!
Immerse yourselves in interactive storytelling sessions to learn more about the different ways of oral expression, lion dance, Singapore’s delectable local cuisine and Chinese wedding customs through impressive tales! You can also learn more about the Chinese wedding customs, from the betrothal to the tea ceremony, by visiting a series game and activity stations.
Additionally, you can also look forward to an amazing line-up of contemporary and cultural performances. Enjoy a fusion of traditional Hakka folk music with contemporary genres at the Hakka Music Fest, revel in the sparkling world of getai, and be mesmerized by cultural performances such as lion dance, wushu showcase, Chinese street opera, and much more!
You can also enter the world of Shadow Puppetry, Chinese street opera and Chinese Calligraphy through live demonstrations, performances and hands-on activities. Yes! Your kids will get to dress up and paint their faces like a Chinese Opera performer!
Aside from that you can also discover fascinating stories behind the century-old Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, tracing Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s revolutionary activities by going on a guided tour and learn more about the history of early Chinese photography studios at the special exhibition, From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore.
Through the exhibition, you will get to see the history of Singapore through the photos of yesteryears.
When & Where is it happening?
2 Nov 2019, Saturday – Social Practices, Rituals & Festive Events
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Through the Years: Celebrating Chinese Wedding Customs
11 am – 6 pm
Go on a journey through time and tradition, and experience the customs and rituals of a Chinese wedding, from the customary betrothal ceremony to a traditional tea ceremony.
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Stories for Children
11.30 am – 12.30 pm | 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Learn more about the Chinese wedding customs through a selection of fantabulous tales in this interactive children’s storytelling session.
- Interactive Station: Chinese Paper Cutting: 12 pm – 3 pm
3 Nov 2019, Sunday – Food Heritage
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Stories for Children
11.30 am – 12.30 pm
From yummy nonya kueh to Hainanese chicken rice, learn more about Singapore’s delectable local cuisine.
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Interactive Station: Make Your Own Malt Candy & Kacang Puteh
12 pm – 3 pm
Feast on yummy treats as you learn how to twist your own malt candy and fold a kacang puteh paper cone!
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Evening Concert: Hakka Music Fest!
7 pm – 9 pm
Enjoy a rich fusion of traditional Hakka folk music with contemporary genres including blues, rock, and jazz.
9 Nov 2019, Saturday – Performing Arts
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Auspicious Tidings: Art of Lion Dance
11 am – 6 pm
Learn more about the history of lion dance, the differences between the Northern and Southern forms, martial art influences, and the elaborate art of lion dance costume design.
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Stories for Children
12.30 pm – 1.30 pm | 3 pm – 4 pm
Discover more about the ancient Chinese art of lion dance through a selection of fantabulous tales!
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Interactive Station: Dragon Dance Puppet
3.30 pm – 6.30 pm
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Cultural Experience: Sights & Sounds of Cantonese Opera
4.30 pm – 6.00 pm
Watch a live demonstration of Chinese street opera, try on opera costumes and make-up, and learn operatic movements in this interactive session.
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Evening Concert: Cultural Arts Extravaganza
7 pm – 9 pm
Catch an exciting selection of iconic Chinese performing arts such as traditional lion dance performances, a wushu showcase, Chinese street opera, and more.
10 Nov 2019, Sunday – Oral Traditions & Expressions
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Lai ah Lai: Learning About Dialects
11 am – 6 pm
Learn more about the unique cuisines of each dialect group, pick up simple words and phrases in dialect, and even play fun games to identify famous Singaporean figures according to their dialect group!
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Cultural Experience: Chinese Calligraphy
4.30 pm – 6.00 pm
Learn basic calligraphy and put their skills to the test through simple writing exercises.
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Evening Concert
7 pm – 9 pm
An entertainment extravaganza filled with live music, exciting performances, and good cheer!
These are just some of the activities you can look forward to, you can find out all the programmes here.
From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore
2 Nov, Saturday to 10 Nov, Sunday
10 am to 9 pm daily
Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, 12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
How much is it?
Admission is free for all activities except the Balestier Heritage Trail which requires pre-registration and an admission fee of $5
Photo credits Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
