Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is one of the most significant and widely celebrated public holidays in Singapore. In 2025, the first day of Chinese New Year falls on Wednesday, 29 January, with the second day observed as a public holiday on Thursday, 30 January. This year marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.
The festival holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Chinese community, which makes up the majority of Singapore's population. It marks the end of the old lunar year and welcomes new beginnings, prosperity, good fortune, and family reunion. Rooted in thousands of years of tradition, Chinese New Year is a time for honouring ancestors, paying respect to elders, and strengthening family bonds.
Celebrations in Singapore are vibrant and colourful. Chinatown transforms into a dazzling spectacle weeks before the holiday, adorned with red lanterns, festive decorations, and bustling bazaars selling traditional goodies, decorations, and clothing. Families gather for a reunion dinner on the eve of Chinese New Year — typically 28 January 2025 — sharing dishes symbolising luck and abundance such as yu sheng (prosperity salad), bak kwa (barbecued meat), and nian gao (sticky rice cake). Lion dances, fireworks, and the giving of red packets (ang baos) filled with money are also central traditions during the festive period.
As a public holiday, most government offices, banks, and many businesses will be closed on 29 and 30 January. However, shopping malls, major attractions, and restaurants — especially those in tourist areas — typically remain open and may even extend their hours to cater to the festive crowds. Chinatown, Gardens by the Bay, and the River Hongbao event at Marina Bay are popular spots drawing both locals and visitors during this period. Public transport runs as usual, though expect larger-than-normal crowds.
For travellers visiting Singapore during Chinese New Year, it is an extraordinary time to experience the city's multicultural spirit at its finest. Book accommodations and restaurants well in advance, as the holiday period sees high demand. Try to visit Chinatown in the evenings when the light displays are most spectacular, and keep an eye out for special performances and cultural events hosted across the island. Do note that some smaller shops and hawker stalls may close for several days as stallholders return to their hometowns. Embrace the festive atmosphere, exchange greetings of Gong Xi Fa Cai, and enjoy the warmth and generosity that defines this beloved celebration in Singapore.