Guide to River Hongbao 2025 - Everything You Need to Know

The ever-popular River Hongbao is back with colourful lanterns, interactive displays, stage performances and this year – SG60 activities. Here’s a complete guide to possibly the biggest River Hongbao carnival of all. 

Visiting the River Hongbao has become a uniquely Singaporean tradition, where families and friends throng the colourful carnival as part of Chinese New Year celebrations. 

For 2025, River Hongbao looks set to be a double bonanza. On top of the customary lantern displays, festive kiosks, interactive exhibits and stage performances, it’ll also incorporate SG60 activities in honour of 60 years of independence. 

Here’s a complete guide to River Hongbao 2025, so you can better plan your visit. 

Table of contents:

• What is River Hongbao 2025?
  • Venue, opening hours and fees
  • When is the best time to visit?
• What are the highlights of River Hongbao 2025?
• Don't forget your mystery angbaos

What is River Hongbao 2025?

A Chinese New Year-themed carnival held in celebration of the Year of the Snake, River Hongbao 2025 brings together cherished traditions and exciting events for all to enjoy. 

Making a return are event signatures like giant lantern displays to light up the night, a festive market featuring traditional street snacks, stage performances featuring local getai stars, amusement rides for the young ones (and those young-at-heart) and interactive booths and exhibits where you can take part in friendly games and contests. 

Highlights this year include SG60–themed displays, as well as a dazzling firecracker show on selected nights (see below for more information). 

In honour of the Snake Year, there’ll also be a nostalgic Retro Snake Game, as well as exclusive themed digital stickers you can collect for your online chats.

River Hongbao 2025 venue, opening hours and entry fees

Venue: Gardens by the Bay

Date & Time:

• 27 Jan – 6.30pm to 10.30pm
• 28 Jan – 6.30pm to 12.15am
• 29 Jan to 5 Feb – 2.30pm to 10.30pm

Admission: Free

When is the best time to visit River Hongbao 2025?

River Hongbao will run from 27 Jan to 5 Feb. The first two nights (27 & 28 Jan) are likely to see the largest crowds, as the event is only open from 6.30pm onwards.

Note that on CNY Eve, the event will close just after midnight, so stick around if you want to take part in the CNY countdown (and view the firecracker show).

From Jan 29 onwards, the carnival will open from 2.30pm to 10.30pm everyday. This is the only period available if you want to do a day-time visit.

What are the highlights of River Hongbao 2025?

Firecracker show 

27 Jan – 8pm, 28 Jan – 12mn, 29 Jan – 8pm, The Meadow

River Hongbao is taking a break this year from the customary fireworks show it has come to be known for. Instead, the pyrotechnic highlight for River Hongbao 2025 will be something more traditional to the season – firecrackers. 

In the first-ever such show in Singapore, watch up to 60 strands of firecrackers set off in a dazzling, heart-thumping display that’s sure to leave an impression. Limited to the first three nights only! 

Lantern displays

Expect Gardens by the Bay to be transformed into a festive wonderland courtesy of dazzling lantern displays scattered throughout. Combining tradition and creativity, each display is crafted to represent a beloved scene or cherished element of the season. 

Highlights include the ever-popular God of Fortune with his promise of luck and prosperity and “The Lion City“, celebrating Singapore’s 60 years of independence with a majestic Merdeka Lion centerpiece. There’s also “Joyful Years Ahead”, a nostalgic setpiece featuring cherished memories in Singapore’s 60 years of history, such as the Lion Head Roller Coaster of the then-beloved Wonderland Amusement Park.

Food Street and amusement rides

Indulge your appetite over at Food Street with a selection of hearty treats and snacks. From local favourites like Muah Chee and sugarcane juice, to international delights such as Turkish Kebab, fish & chips, Japanese tamago, and potato twisters, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

For those with a taste for adventure and whimsy, make a beeline for the amusement rides. Experience the thrill of the Double-Storey Horse Carousel, the only one of its kind in Singapore, alongside exciting rides like the Euro Swing, Space Shuttle, Mini Viking, and Texas Train. 

Stage performances

River Hongbao will feature nightly stage performances, showcasing a mix of local artistes and international troupes across themed nights such as Getai Night and Xinyao Night.

The vibrant lineup includes beloved local talents like Joanna Dong, Shigga Shay, and shazza, alongside cultural showcases that celebrate Singapore’s rich multicultural heritage.

Also, don’t miss the award-winning performances by overseas dance troupe The Wind from Yunnan Performing Troupe, known for their dazzling ethnic artistry. 

Exhibitions and booths 

Be sure to make time for “Greetings from Afar: Chinese Remittance Letters”, a featured exhibition of this year’s River Hongbao. 

A collaboration between the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall (Singapore) and Fujian Provincial Archives of China, this interactive exhibition provides a poignant glimpse into the lives of early Chinese migrants. Through their remittance letters – containing memos and money – sent to their families overseas, viewers can learn about the lives, hopes and emotions of early Chinese migrants in Singapore. 

Additionally, there will be a number of booths where you can discover cultural showcases or take part in casual games and friendly contests. 

Don’t forget your mystery hongbaos in SingSaver’s Sure Win Sure Huat campaign 

River Hongbao 2025 looks set to be a blast, and hopefully now that you’ve read our guide, you have a good idea of what to expect. 

Speaking of hongbaos, don’t forget the mystery hongbaos we’re giving away in our Sure Win Sure Huat Campaign! Each sure-win red pack contains up to S$8,888 in cash, along with other cash prizes and discount codes. To get yours, simply sign up for any participating product!