Organised by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, Wan Qing CultureFest 2019 seeks to celebrate the rich diversity and beauty of our cultural traditions.
Visitors will have the opportunity to experience Singapore’s heritage in fresh and immersive ways such as interactive workshops, performances and more. This year’s festival will showcase four key pillars of cultural heritage – Social Practices, Food Heritage, Performing Arts, and Oral Traditions and Expressions. Experience a traditional Chinese wedding, find out more about Nanyang coffee and Singapore’s food culture, discover the art of lion dance, and have fun learning Chinese dialects through a series of interactive game stations. Other exciting offerings including a getai concert, traditional Hakka folk music, comedy shows and more. Join us at Wan Qing CultureFest 2019 for a family-friendly cultural extravaganza not to be missed!
Wan Qing CultureFest 2019 will be launched in conjunction with the Memorial Hall’s new special exhibition, “From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore”. This exhibition highlights the process of technological transfer and mobility during the colonial era, and examines how the migration of skilled Chinese artisans and professionals, such as painters and photographers, led to the proliferation of photography studios in the region. The exhibition showcases over 90 artefacts from the late 19th to early 20th century, including carte de visites and photographs by European, Chinese and Japanese studios in Singapore. These photographs they took provide an important visual record of the diverse groups of inhabitants in colonial Singapore.
Admission is free.
2 November (Social Practices, Rituals and Festive Events)
1. Through the Years: Celebrating Chinese Wedding Customs
(Supported by Ngee Ann Polytechnic)
Time: 11.00am – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Chinese weddings are elaborate affairs, comprising numerous ceremonies and rituals that are rich in meaning and symbolism. In this series of activity stations, visitors will be able to go on a journey through time and tradition, and experience the customs and rituals of a Chinese wedding. From the customary betrothal ceremony to a traditional tea ceremony, get some hands-on fun as you visit each station and participate in games and other fun activities to uncover the different aspects of a traditional Chinese wedding!
2. Stories for Children
(Supported by the Speak Good English Movement and Speak Mandarin Campaign)
Time: 11.30am – 12.30pm; 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required
From traditional tea ceremony preparations to the exchanging of ‘good luck money’ in the form of red packets, join this interactive children’s storytelling session and learn more about the Chinese wedding customs through a selection of fantabulous tales! Each session will include a simple craft activity.
3. Interactive Station: Chinese Paper Cutting
Time: 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Paper cutting is one of the most popular folk arts in Chinese culture, and is seen as a symbol of prosperity and abundance. During Chinese wedding ceremonies, a red paper cutting with the character ‘xi’ (meaning ‘double happiness’) is a traditional and essential decoration, while patterns of dolls, gourds or lotus symbolize wishes for children. Participate in this interactive craft booth and learn how to make your very own simple paper cut!
4. Interactive Station: Aromatic Tea Appreciation
(Supported by Camellia Tea Bar)
Time: 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required
A tea ceremony is a Chinese ritual often performed during weddings, and is considered to be an important component of the wedding ceremony. Learn about the symbolism of tea in Chinese culture and the delicate art of tea brewing and appreciation, as you sip on cups of freshly-brewed tea at our tasting station.
5. Interactive Station: Origami Wedding Favour Box
Time: 3.30pm – 6.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Wedding favours are small gifts given during wedding receptions as a gesture of appreciation by the bridge and groom to their guests. Get creative and DIY your own origami wedding favour box at this simple craft station!
6. Interactive Station: Design Your Own Ang Pow!
Time: 3.30pm – 6.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Red packets are an essential tradition in many Chinese festivals and rituals, as the colour red connotes good fortune and abundance, while the act of giving money serves to bless the receiver with bountiful wealth. Design your own auspicious red packet at this fun craft station, and learn more about the symbolism of red packets in Chinese culture!
7.Sharing Session: Love, Harmony and Fengshui
(Supported by Fengshui Master Lim)
Time: 4.30pm – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required
How have Chinese wedding customs and traditions changed over the years? What is guo da li, and what is its significance? Does feng shui really play a part in love and harmony in a marriage? Discover the elaborate details involved in planning a Chinese wedding, from the early stages of compatibility-seeking to the final step of an chuang, and gain a deeper appreciation for our social practice and rituals!
8. Opening Performance:
Time: 6.30pm – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
In conjunction with this year’s bicentennial commemoration, Singapore Focus Theatre presents a riveting outdoor theatre performance centred around the Memorial Hall’s new special exhibition, “From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore”. Set in the early 19 th century, follow the story of Chinese immigrant XX as he journeys from China to Singapore and battles the odds to set up his own photography studio.
9. Evening Concert: Love is in the Air!
Time: 6.30pm – 9.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Can you feel the love tonight? Grab a picnic mat or hammock and wind down with an evening of riveting outdoor theatre shows by budding young artistes from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and live music performances by talented local musicians – all themed to the concept of love through the years.
3 November (Food Heritage)
10. A Taste of Local Culture: Nanyang Coffee & Singapore
(Supported by Ngee Ann Polytechnic)
Time: 11.00am – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Ever wondered how Nanyang coffee, or ‘kopi’, come to be a Singapore staple? In this series of activity stations, visitors will be able to discover the origins and history of kopi, get crafty with coffee art using upcycled materials, learn to brew coffee the traditional way at a live ‘kopitiam’, and find out more about coffee culture through interactive games!
11. Stories for Children
(Supported by the Speak Good English Movement and Speak Mandarin Campaign)
Time: 11.30am – 12.30pm; 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required
From yummy nonya kueh to Hainanese chicken rice, join this interactive storytelling session and learn more about Singapore’s delectable local cuisine through a selection of fantabulous tales! Each session will include a simple craft activity.
12. Interactive Station: Make Your Own Malt Candy & Kacang Puteh
Time: 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Road-side snacks such as malt candy and kacang puteh were once a common sight outside theatres and markets. Relive the good old days at these snack booths and feast on yummy treats as you learn how to twist your own malt candy and fold a kacang puteh paper cone!
13. Interactive Station: Make Your Own Putu Piring & Bird Nest Drink
Time: 3.30pm – 6.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Road-side snacks such as putu piring and bird nest drink were once a common sight outside theatres and markets. Relive the good old days at these snack booths and feast on yummy treats as you learn how to steam your own putu piring and scoop your own bird nest drink!
14. Cultural Experience: Heritage Kueh Soap Crafting
(Supported by Crafter’s Studio)
Time: 12.00pm – 1.30pm; 4.30pm – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required
From breakfast staples such as soon kueh and chwee kueh to auspicious treats like ang ku kueh, there’s a kueh for every occasion in Singapore! Learn a thing or two about Singapore’s colourful kueh culture, and watch as our artisans transform simple bars of organic cold-processed soap into realistic traditional kuehs in this soap-crafting demonstration.
15. Evening Concert: Hakka Music Fest!
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Calling all Hakka friends! Groove to the tunes of Taiwanese Hakka band, San Geu Tai in their first ever solo concert in Singapore. Enjoy a rich fusion of traditional Hakka folk music with contemporary genres including blues, rock, and jazz.
9 November (Performing Arts)
16. Auspicious Tidings: Art of Lion Dance
(Supported by Ngee Ann Polytechnic)
Time: 11.00am – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Lion dance performances are a common sight in Singapore during festive occasions, as they are believed to be bearers of good luck. In this series of activity stations, visitors can learn more the history of lion dance, the differences between the Northern and Southern forms, martial art influences, and the elaborate art of lion dance costume design. Pick up a thing or two at our hands-on demonstration zone that promises great fun for the whole family!
17. Stories for Children
(Supported by the Speak Good English Movement and Speak Mandarin Campaign)
Time: 11.30am – 12.30pm; 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Why do the Chinese celebrate festive occasions with lion dance performances, and how did this art form come to be? Join this interactive storytelling session and learn more about the ancient Chinese art of lion dance through a selection of fantabulous tales! Each session will include a simple craft activity.
18. Interactive Station: DIY Lion Dance Mask
Time: 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Are you a playful and fun-loving Northern Lion, or a fearsome and powerful Southern Lion? Learn more about the differences between the Northern and Southern Lion dance styles as you design your very own lion dance face mask in this drop-in craft station, and transform yourself into one of the most popular Chinese cultural icons!
19. Interactive Station: Create Your Own Wushu Sword
Time: 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required
The term Wushu (武术) is made up out two Chinese characters – 武 (wu), meaning ‘combat’ and 术 (shu), meaning ‘art form’. In essence, Wushu is a form of contemporary Chinese martial arts which blends elements of performance and martial application. Learn more about the weapons used in this ancient art form and have fun designing your very own Wushu swords using simple materials like aluminium foil!
20. Interactive Station: Create Your Own Dragon Dance Puppet
Time: 3.30pm – 6.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Dragons are important creatures in Chinese folklore and legend, and are seen as symbols of power, strength, and good fortune. Create your own dragon dance puppet in this fun craft station!
21. Interactive Station: DIY Chinese Opera Mask
Time: 3.30pm – 6.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Did you know that the colourful masks used in Chinese opera performances have special meanings assigned to them? Opera characters wearing red masks are meant to embody heroism and loyalty, while characters wearing yellow masks are deemed to be treacherous and sly. Colour and design your very own opera face mask, and take on a new character for the day!
22. Cultural Experience: Shadow Puppetry
(Supported by Ngee Ann Polytechnic)
Time: 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Before the days of cinema and live concerts, there was shadow puppetry. Explore this traditional Chinese art form in this in-depth sharing session, complete with simple shadow play craft activities and a live shadow puppetry demonstration that utilises musical rhythm, active role play, vivid storytelling!
23. Cultural Experience: Sights & Sounds of Chinese Opera
(Supported by Kong’s Chinese Opera)
Time: 4.30pm – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Delve into the colourful world of Chinese opera, more commonly known as wayang, and learn more about this fascinating art form and its various styles. Watch a live demonstration of Chinese street opera, try on opera costumes and make-up, and learn operatic movements in this interactive session.
24. Evening Concert: Cultural Arts Extravaganza!
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Experience wonder and delight in this dynamic showcase of cultural and contemporary arts! Catch an exciting selection of iconic Chinese performing arts such as traditional lion dance performances, a wushu showcase, Chinese street opera, and more.
10 November (Oral Traditions and Expressions)
25. Lai ah Lai: Learning About Dialects
Time: 11.00am – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Which dialect group do you belong to – Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka or Hainanese? In this series of activity stations, visitors will be able to rediscover their roots and learn more about the unique cuisines of each dialect group, pick up simple words and phrases in dialect, and even play fun games to identify famous Singaporean figures according to their dialect group! Perfect for intergenerational learning, this programme promises great fun for the whole family.
26. Stories for Children
(Supported by the Speak Good English Movement and Speak Mandarin Campaign)
Time: 11.30am – 12.30pm; 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Languages are important to our culture, especially our mother tongues! Join this interactive storytelling session and learn more about the different ways of oral expression through a selection of fantabulous tales! Each session will include a simple
craft activity.
27. Sharing Session: Cultural Characteristics of Dialect Nursery Rhymes
(by Dr Kang-Ger Wen)
Time: 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Ti orh orh, beh lor hor – do you remember the songs you sang as a child? What messages and metaphors were hidden or lost in those nursery rhymes? Join this light-hearted sharing session by Dr Kang Ger-Wen as he explores the symbolism and imagery in dialect nursery rhymes, and uncover a whole new meaning and appreciation of these familiar and well-loved tunes!
28. Cultural Experience: Chinese Calligraphy
(Supported by Hua Yi Cultural Pte Ltd)
Time: 4.30pm – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Learn what makes the pen mightier than the sword in this hands-on showcase! Perfect for beginners, this demonstration will be led by Mr Ma Shuang Lu, renowned calligrapher and practitioner of Chinese cultural arts, and will include a sharing session on calligraphy techniques and its significance in Chinese culture. Visitors can also learn basic calligraphy and put their skills to the test through simple writing exercises.
29. Evening Concert: Lai Lai Getai!
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Lai ah, lai ah! It’s time for an entertainment extravaganza that’s guaranteed to lift your spirits. Join us for a glittering night filled with live music, exciting performances, and good cheer as the Memorial Hall transforms into a smashing getai venue!
Other Happenings
30. Balestier Heritage Trail
Date: 2, 3, 9, 10 November
Time: 10.30am – 12.00pm
Admission: $5.00. Register here.
Embark on our best-selling Balestier Heritage Trail to uncover the rich history and origins of Balestier from as early as 1835. From landmarks like the Maha Sasanaramsi Burmese Buddhist Temple to heritage stops such as Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory, delve into the architectural and cultural developments of Balestier and discover the unknown stories behind these places.
31. Heritage Hunt
Date: 2, 3, 9, 10 November
Time: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Get ready for an immersive adventure as you navigate your way through a series of interactive activity and game stations to learn more about different aspects of Chinese culture! Put your knowledge about Chinese customs and practices to the test in a series of fun and engaging tasks including charades, crossword puzzles, memory cards and more to win a mystery prize.
32. Special Exhibition “From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore”
Date: 2 November
Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Admission: No registration required
In conjunction with this year’s bicentennial commemoration, this exhibition titled “From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore” highlights the process of technological transfer and mobility during the colonial era. The exhibition examines how the migration of skilled Chinese artisans and professionals, such as painters and photographers, led to the proliferation of photography studios in the region. As people from all walks of life chose to have their photographs taken at these Chinese photography studios, these studios inadvertently serve as repositories for a nation’s history.
33. Sharing Session: Preserving Memories, Creating Visions: A Brief History of Portrait Painting
(by Dr. Long Chin Peng)
Date: 2 November
Time: 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Before the introduction of photography, the Chinese relied on painted portraiture to record the likeness of an individual. Other than recording one’s likeness, each portraiture also reflects the context in which it was painted in and serves to tell a unique story of the individual. In this sharing session, Dr. Long Chin Peng will explore the various ways we can “read” traditional portraiture and highlight what we can learn from this unique art form.
34. Sharing Session: Lee Brothers Photographers: Writing and Rewriting a Remarkable Singapore Story
(by Ms. Gretchen Liu)
Date: 3 November
Time: 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required
One of the more famous family-run photography studios in Singapore before World War II was the Lee Brothers Studio on Hill Street. Originally from Guangdong province, the extended Lee family set up more than a dozen photo studios in the region, including eight in Singapore such as Quan Hing, Tien Seng, Yong Fong, Koon Sun, Lee Brothers Studio and Eastern Studio. This sharing session by Singapore historian, Gretchen Liu explores the Lee Brothers photographic collection in the larger context of the history of photography in Singapore and beyond as well as honing in on the details that make their images so special in the context of Singapore history.
35. Special Exhibition Guided Tour: “From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore”
Date: 2, 3, 9, 10 November
Time: 10.30am – 11.30am (Chinese); 1.30pm – 2.30pm (English)
Admission: No registration required
Learn more about the history of early Chinese photography studios in Singapore as our volunteer guides take you through the Memorial Hall’s special exhibition, “From Brush to Lens: Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore”. This exhibition examines how the migration of skilled Chinese artisans and professionals, such as painters and photographers, led to the proliferation of photography studios in the region.
36. Permanent Galleries Guided Tour
Date: 2, 3, 9, 10 November
Time: 2.30pm – 3.30pm (Chi); 3.00pm – 4.00pm (Eng)
Admission: No registration required
Join us for a guided tour of Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and hear the stories behind this century-old villa that trace Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s revolutionary activities in Southeast Asia. Gain valuable insights on the impact of the 1911 Revolution on Singapore, as well as Singapore’s contributions to the Revolution.
Image Credit: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Age
0+
Price
Free
Telephone number
+65 6256 7377
Links
Address
Singapore12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
How to get there?
By Bus
Bus service nos. 21, 130, 131, 139, 139M, 145, 186 (to alight at Zhongshan Mall)
Bus service nos. 139, 139M: Opp EASB (to alight at East Asia Institute of Management)
By Train
Toa Payoh Station (NS19)
Take bus service nos. 139, 145 from Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (to alight at Zhongshan Park)
Novena Station (NS20)
Take bus service nos. 21, 131 from Novena Church (to alight at Zhongshan Park)
Alternatively, the Memorial Hall is a 20 minute walk from Toa Payoh Station (NS19) or Novena Station (NS20)
By Car
Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), from Changi Aiport towards Tuas
Take Exit 17 (Balestier Road/Thomson Road/Upper Thomson Road) onto Jalan Datoh. Turn left at Balestier Road, then turn left at Ah Hood Road.
Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), from Tuas towards Changi Airport
Take Exit 17D (Thomson Road/Toa Payoh) onto Jalan Toa Payoh. Turn right to stay on Thomson Road. Turn left to Balestier Road, then turn left at Ah Hood Road.
Parking
The Memorial Hall does not offer parking spaces. Visitors may park at Zhongshan Mall, HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse, or Ah Hood Gardens housing estate.