Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Golden Autumn Celebrations: Family Bonding Time

Mid autumn has just passed, but Golden Autumn Celebrations have just only begun at WaterFront, Sentosa.

From 1st October to 12 November 2017,  along the waterfront promenade of Resorts World Sentosa, mid autumn illumination magic has been set up over 3 different zones - China Fantasy, Silk Road Fantasy and Childhood Fantasy.

Hosted by Golden Compass School and a few other groups, this festival offers over 17 street food stalls offering SiChuan (四川) street delicacies prepared by invited cooks specially flown in from Chengdu. Mouth watering delicacies include Three Guns (三大炮). This glutinous dessert was interestingly named 三大炮 (which translates to 3 cannons in english) because the sound it makes during its preparation sounded like cannons firing!

Also, my favourite Candied Hawthorn Stick (冰糖葫芦) will be sold in the festival too! We can't really find this delicacy in Singapore so I do recommend you to go and try it should you have the chance! Here's a throwback photo of my 冰糖葫芦 I took two years ago while I was in SiChuan.
Photo of my 冰糖葫芦 taken two years ago when I was in Chengdu, SiChuan China
Other than live authentic Sichuan delicacies,  there is live fringe entertainment from performers direct from China too! I forgot to take photos from this section but the performances include puppet ribbon dance, the province's signature mask-swapping show as well as long-spouted Chinese tea pouring. However, there are only 2 allocated timings for the performances so do try to catch them!
Performances timings are: every night 6:30-7:15 and 8:30-9:15.


Moving on to the main attraction of the celebration -- the spectacular and beautiful illumination magic!

China Fantasy
In this zone, we have Instagram worthy gigantic lantern displays. These displays are popular Chinese icons such as precious vases, adorable pandas, Chinese architecture and many more.
Precious Vases



This 12-metres in height vase installation is the marquee attraction of this festival and features the latest in projection mapping technology through a spectacular 3D light show. Running 4 times every hour, this 5 minute performance depicts the well known classic tale of Chang'e (嫦娥)and her beloved husband (后羿).










Childhood Fantasy
This zone is a child's dream-like fantasy playground which features interactive light-emitting LED dance floors and swings. Other than these, there is also true-to-life six metres high dinosaur figures and their larger than life dinosaur egg replicas for the young ones! Furthermore, the 12 zodiac character displays complement the set up and offer a vast amount of photo opportunity for the entire family.
reviving my childhood

One lantern that caught my attention, as well as many other passers-by's last night would be the 财神爷 (Fortune God). Put your hand under the chop and be inked with a good luck from the fortune god! (Perhaps I will strike 4D after this).
Interactive 财神爷 lantern which chops on my hand!


12-zodiac lantern display

Of course, I must strike a pose with my zodiac sign - the ox!



Silk Road Fantasy
As its name suggests, this zone brings to life the historical journey across China's vast landscape where trade discoveries and cultural exchanges meet at the crossroads. Featuring a pair of four metres tall swan lantern display that symbolises the coming together of different cultures during the silk road period, this street is the most beautiful and elegant part of the festival (in my opinion).








If you're looking for some family fun, you should definitely give this celebration a visit! I brought my mum this time round and both of us had a great time bonding over taking pictures, enjoying the Sichuan delicacies and the performances.

Met Monice at the event too! (http://mons-diary.blogspot.sg/)

With Tricia who I have not met for the longest time! (http://triciakohh.blogspot.sg/)

Tickets for the event are priced at  $15 for adults, $12 for children and $8 for seniors from Mondays to Thursdays and $18 for adults, $15 for children and $9 for seniors from Fridays to Sundays!

As it is an ticketed event, the crowd is lesser and it will be easier for you to capture beautiful photos without many photo-bombers :p

What are you waiting for? Get your tickets at SISTIC now!



Thanks for reading!