Feb 17, 2010
By Victoria Vaughan
As of last night, more than 600,000 people had attended the annual festival, double the figure organisers had hoped for. --ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
REVELLERS have flocked to the River Hongbao 2010, smashing the expected visitor target. As of last night, more than 600,000 people had attended the annual festival, double the figure organisers had hoped for.
They put it down to the fact the festival opens from noon this year, as opposed to 6pm in other years.
American expatriate Kelsey Cobb, 23, was among those impressed by the colourful and elaborate displays. 'I am quite unfamiliar with Chinese New Year traditions, so I found it all very interesting. I especially liked the construction of the Chinese god of fortune and the Chinese zodiac animal lanterns on the floating platform,' said Miss Cobb, who is a social worker.
Tonight's Pop Songs Sing Along Concert is hoped to pull in yet more crowds to the event which runs till Saturday. Visitors can join in singing Chinese pop songs from the 1960s to 2000s with a live band led by the emcees. Singers Luo Shi Feng, from Taiwan and Joi Chua, from Singapore, will also be performing.
In addition to the evening performances, there are also handicraft stalls and an amusement area.
Still to come - the popular songs night, youth performance night and national integration night.
