8 CNY 2022 Activities & Plans For The Entire Family

From Chinatown light-ups to museum visits, decoration workshops and even a festive staycation, there’s plenty to do for CNY 2022. Here’s our pick of the best eight activities for the season.  

Chinese New Year 2022 is just on the horizon, but with the untimely appearance of the Omicron variant, COVID-19 restrictions look set to remain firmly in place. 

This could mean lesser opportunities to visit your relatives; you certainly won’t be able to gather the entire clan under one roof, as was the custom in raucous days of old. 

So, in lieu of large family gatherings, why not celebrate the season by participating in the many CNY 2022 activities, events and celebrations that are happening all over the island? You and your family can spend some quality time together, make fond memories, while posting lots of photos to share with your relatives and friends. 

To get you started, we’ve picked out the following eight CNY 2022 activities.

8 fun and wholesome activities to keep the whole family entertained during the Chinese New Year festive period

Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2022

Date and time: 7 Jan to 2 Mar
Cost: Free, selected activities may require ticket purchases

The Chinese New Year Bazaar not being held this year is no doubt a bummer, but there are still plenty of reasons to give Chinatown a visit. 

Continuing from previous years, the colourful downtown district will be decked out in a dazzling light-up during the festive period. Besides whole streets festooned with twinkling lights, you can also expect to see gigantic lanterns in the shape of this year’s zodiac animal, the tiger. 

Besides posing for photos with these eye-catching displays, you can also view a special installation of tiger sculptures in Kreta Ayer Square (7 Jan to 15 Feb). 

In this collaboration with the World Wild Fund for Nature (Singapore) and Temenggong Artists in Residence, local artists have been invited to paint these tigers, imbuing each one with their own unique styles and designs. 

Another fun family activity in the area is the Chinatown Wishing Tree (7 Jan to 15 Feb), which you can find at the atrium of Chinatown Point. You and your loved ones can write your wishes for the Year of the Tiger and hang them on the tree. You may also make a donation for each card written (minimum S$2 each), with the proceeds benefiting the needy elderly and low-income families.

Want to delve deeper into the history and heritage of Chinatown? Consider joining the CNY Walking Trail (22, 23, 29 and 30 Jan, S$35 per pax), a two-hour guided tour with food tasting and refreshments.

Museum Roundtable Lunar New Year Hongbao Campaign

Date and time: 7 Jan to 4 Feb
Cost: Self-collection - Free, Collector’s Album - S$70

If you’ve been meaning to introduce your children to the cerebral pleasures of Singapore’s museums - and score some free red packets at the same time - here’s a great chance to do so. 

The Museum Roundtable Lunar New Year Hongbao Campaign is an annual special event that features collectible red packets. Each year, a limited-run series of red packets is released and made available to the public. 

Here’s the fun part: There are a total of 35 different designs in each series, and they are distributed among all the museums, heritage institutions and galleries participating in the campaign. 

You’ll find only one design at each location, so you and your family will have to decide how many different red packets you want to collect, and plan your visits accordingly. 

If going round to all 35 institutions seems too much of a bother, you can also opt to purchase the Limited Edition Collector’s Album, which contains all 35 red packets in a special viewing album, for S$70 each.

Do note that while self-collection of the hongbaos are free, you’ll need to accomplish certain tasks at the venue, such as connecting on social media, or simply completing a tour. 

Some locations are also choosing not to host in-person collections, and will mail you the red packets instead after you complete some simple online tasks. Be sure to check the list of participating venues (linked above) before you make your visit. 

Dahlia Dreams at Gardens by the Bay (Flower Dome)

Date and time: 14 Jan to 20 Feb, 9am to 9pm
Cost: Adult - S$12, Child/Senior - S$8

The popular Chinese New Year floral display Dahlia Dreams continues this year at the inimitable Gardens by the Bay, and we’re glad to see the venue upping its game. 

To usher in the Year of the Tiger, the Flower Dome will be home to an exhilarating display featuring around 2,000 beautiful dahlias, azaleas, chrysanthemum and narcissus blooms. 

Making its debut is the stunning River Hongbao lantern, Spring Fragrances. Featuring three Chinese moon gates, a pair of rabbits and larger-than-life narcissus blooms, this exclusive installation is the highlight of the exhibition. 

And to further boost the festive atmosphere, there will also be adorable tiger cub displays and plenty of traditional auspicious decorations such as giant coin pouches, lucky couplets and the like. 

Spring in the Sea at S.E.A Aquarium

Date and time: 15 Jan to 15 Feb, 10am to 5pm
Cost: Adult - S$38, Child (4 to 12) - S$28. Package options available.

In the Chinese language, the pronunciation for ‘fish’ is synonymous with that of ‘abundance’, so why not ring in the Chinese New Year in the company of fishes for an extra shot of abundance? 

S.E.A Aquarium on Sentosa Island wants to help you do just that with its Spring in the Sea event, which is specially themed to celebrate the festival.

Follow the Trail of Fortune to spot five unique sea animals that learn how their amazing traits and characteristics make them living symbols of good fortune. Complete the trail’s tasks and you can claim a special prize. 

During your hunt, don’t get distracted (too much) by the venue’s manta ray mascots, which will be roving all around for a fun meet-and-greet. 

If you’re looking to bring home more than just memories and photos, be sure to join in the Chunlian Workshop (10 Jan to 15 Feb). In this casual and entertaining workshop, you’ll learn to compose and write a spring festival couplet under the guidance of an expert. Afterwards, you can bring your couplet home to decorate with.  

CNY Hanging Decor Workshop at Gardens by the Bay (Floral Fantasy Gift Shop)

Date and time: 15 Jan, 11:30am to 12:15pm, 1pm to 1:45pm
Cost: S$55 per pax

Take your CNY home decorations one level higher with this Hanging Decor Workshop hosted by The Floral Petal’s in-house floral paper artist, Michelle. 

In this interactive 45-minute workshop, you and your family members will be guided in creating your very own festive decoration to usher in the Year of the Tiger with flair. 

Your hanging decoration comprises a wooden base, which you can deck out with gleaming gold leaves and vibrant paper peonies. It’s perfect for brightening up your space! 

Alternatively, present it to your favourite neighbour to light up their day. 

River Hongbao Tiktok Fortune Dance Challenge

Date and time: 3 Jan to 6 Feb
Cost: Free

If last year’s iteration - a bigger, even more impressive event held at Gardens by the Bay - is any indication, River Hongbao looks set to comfortably retain its title of ‘Most Awesome Chinese New Year Celebration in Singapore’ this year.

Alas, details have not yet been released for River Hongbao 2022, so we’ll just have to hold on for now. 

In the meantime, why not take part in the River Hongbao Tiktok Fortune Dance Challenge? You can round up the entire family for an amusing time, and might even walk away with S$188 in shopping vouchers!

All you have to do is come up with your own version of this year’s Fortune Dance and post it on Tiktok. You can post as many entries as you want, but each participant will only be entitled to win one prize. 

Time to get up and dance!

Chingay 2022 Watch Party

Date and time: 12 Feb, 8pm
Cost: Free

The spectacular visual fest that is Chingay 2022 sadly won’t be held live this year (how much more will you take from us, COVID-19?!). Instead, there will be a live webcast held so you can still enjoy the spectacle. 

Yes, watching a telecast version simply cannot match up to the sheer glamour and excitement of being there in the flesh, but that doesn't mean you can’t still have a blast. 

Join a watch party for Chingay 2022 - whether at a physical location, or virtually over the Internet - so you can bask in the atmosphere together with your family, neighbours and friends. 

Better yet, help to foster the community spirit by hosting a Chingay 2022 watch party. You just might be rewarded for your efforts with S$7,500 worth of vouchers!  

Also, you can rope in your kids to help spread the word and organise the watch party for some bonus family bonding. 

Universal Studios Singapore Stay-and-Bond Staycay

Date and time: Book - Now till 12 Feb, Stay - 31 Jan to 13 Feb
Cost: From S$449++ for 2 pax, includes:

2D1N stay at Hotel Michael or Equarius Hotel Deluxe Room
Breakfast for 2 Adults
2 Universal Studios Singapore Adult Dated One-Day Tickets (dated on the checkout date)
2 S$5 Universal Studios Singapore Retail Vouchers at select retail outlets (min. spend S$25)
2 S$10 Universal Studios Singapore F&B Vouchers at select F&B outlets (min. spend S$25)
Tang yuan workshop admission for 2 pax

Since overseas travel is still pretty gnarly, we reckon a staycation would be the next best thing.

Universal Studios is having a special Chinese New Year staycay promotion for two pax that combines a one-night stay with a tang yuan making workshop hosted by Samantha Mantou. 

Over the course of the 75-minute session, you’ll learn how to make, mould and cook this traditional dessert dish made from glutinous rice flour. Expect to create tiny, edible versions of auspicious symbols, such as koi fish, fortune bags and gold teals.   

But that’s not all. The staycay package - a Deluxe Room at Hotel Michael or Equarius Hotel - also includes breakfast for two adults, a pair of adult tickets to Universal Studios, and S$15 worth of vouchers for use within the theme park. 

Starting from just S$449++ for two adults, there’s some great value to be found here. Tack on some additional beds or an extra room so the whole family can come too!

Charge your tickets to the right cashback credit card and stand to earn attractive rewards. Terms and conditions apply.

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