River Hongbao 2017

My must-go event during Chinese New Year and look at the crowd!

This year’s fireworks and laser show is quite disappointing. Even though it runs every night at 9pm, it is very very short. Hope it will be better next year! Happy Chinese New Year!!!

River Hongbao 2016

River Hongbao is one of the annual event that I will always bring my family. Coinciding with the year of the monkey, the theme this year is Monkey King, the key character in the story Journey to the West, 西游记.

There is a gigantic Chinese Chess Board, pitting Tang Sanzang, 唐三藏 and Bull Demon King, 牛魔王.

There are many other beautiful lanterns depicting other characters or events in the Journey to the West.

And not to forget the must-have-character… God of Fortune, 财神爷.

But the zodiac characters this year don’t really look like the animals they are supposed to represent.

Fortunately, the monkey does.

Beside lanterns, there is a stage performance.

And the finale is the nightly fireworks at 9pm.

 

 

 

 

River Hongbao 2015

I purposely choose to come down during a weekday to avoid the crowd. If not, my wife and I will have to carry our kids through the crowd.

My kids are happy to see their favorite playground being exhibited.

And last but not least, the iconic figure that must be around every year.

Taken with Sony Nex5R with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS lens

River Hongbao 2013

I made it a point to go to the annual River Hongbao every year if I can and ever since I was attached, I didn’t miss any. This year, as usual I brought my family along.  Each year, I will always think the event was very crowded… only to find the next one even more crowded. But this year was exceptional… the rainy spell meant the turnout was lesser. I came to the conclusion because my wife and I was able to push a pram into it and came out alright!

But still, from the pictures, it is difficult to tell it was not as crowded.

Generally, I find the lanterns, lights and colours much nicer than past River Hongbao.

One of the main highlight I would not miss was to take a look at my chinese zodiac. This year each zodiac was housed in a gigantic vase.

The reason of housing it in a vase this year was because vase, in mandarin, sounds similar with safe, i.e. 平平《瓶》安安.

This year, our new guests were also featured.

Another must have, the wishing well.

As usual, there will always be performances. The crowd in front of the stage will always discouraged me from approaching the stage and as my children got more articulate and demanding… I find it increasingly difficult to refuse to let them take a look.

Colourful stage performance

Good bye River Hongbao 2013, we will be back next year!