For generations of Singaporeans, one of the most common customs in preparation for Chinese New Year is to visit Chinatown to purchase festive goods. Apart from purchasing festive goods, Singaporeans young and old also visit Chinatown to soak in the festive atmosphere (nian wei, 年味), where a blend of sights, sounds, and sensations from the bustling crowd, busy stalls, and auspicious decorations combine to create an ambience of festivity.

This travelling exhibition explores the development of Chinese New Year markets in Singapore, which started out as small-scale traditional markets and have since taken on different forms through the years.

Drop by the travelling exhibition to learn about the history of Chinese New Year markets in early Singapore and explore scenes from a typical Chinese New Year market in the 1970s.

The travelling exhibitions will be at the following locations:
16 Jan – 2 Mar 2026 - One Punggol
19 Jan – 4 Mar 2026 - Chinatown Complex