Expect modern and futuristic elements in River Hongbao this year

SINGAPORE — Nightly fireworks and laser show, more than 60 lanterns lining along the floating platform at Marina Bay, and a new interactive mobile application for visitors to write their good wishes on virtual sky lanterns — these are some of the highlights you can expect at River Hongbao 2017.

Organisers are hoping the modern elements they have introduced will give visitors a brand new experience at the festival.

The main feature of River Hongbao, which is now in its 31st year, is a 13m-tall and 53m-long lantern set piece that incorporates many pieces conveying the themes of international conectivity, innovative infrastructure and sustainable living.

Its centrepiece is a giant rooster, which is surrounded by future landscapes such as the Jewel Changi Airport and Punggol Eco-town, as well as items depicting technological advancement such as autonomous smart cars and robots.

Sun Xueling, chairman of River Hongbao 2017 and Member of Parliament Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, explained that by incorporating these elements, “it also signifies our aspirations for the future”.

That is, as a clean, green and sustainable city in the 21st century while striving to become a Smart Nation.

Besides the lantern display, visitors can, for the first time, send Chinese New Year good wishes to their friends and family by handwriting them onto an online sky lantern via a smartphone application that local mobile application company Nestia has created in a partnership with the organisers.

The virtual lanterns will be “released” to the sky, and visitors will be distributed virtual reality (VR) goggles while they are at the event, so they can enjoy a 360 degree view of the floating lanterns, including their own. Up to 3,000 VR goggles will be available during the event.

The mobile application will be available from Jan 18 onwards on the Apple and Android store.

Similar to last year, visitors will get to view a nightly fireworks and laser show, as well as an exhibiton to help visitors better understand how Singapore’s multi-cultural society is strengthened through the co-celebration of major festivals such as Deepavali and Hari Raya Puasa. This year’s fireworks display will “interact” with the rooster and the lion from the main lantern set piece, said Sun. The rooster will crow and the lion will roar as the fireworks and laser show light up the floating platform.

Visitors will also get a chance to be entertained by musical performances. For example, homegrown singer-songwriter Nathan Hartono will be present on Jan 26 to sing the classic tune Moonlight in the City as well as an original song composed by himself.

Other artistes in the line-up include singers Roy Loi Fey Huei and Hong Shao Xuan, who will be performing alongside the winners of Under the Singapore Sky: National Schools Xinyao Singing and Song Writing competition 2016.

Sun said she hopes the performances and modern elements will attract more young people to the event. With Hartono’s appearance and the introduction of the mobile app, “there’s quite a youthful element” this year, Sun added.

Through River Hongbao 2017, “we hope that visitors will have an all-rounded experience and also that they will realise that River Hongbao — despite having been around for 30 years and now into its 31st year — (will) still have new offerings for them,” she said.

River Hongbao 2017 will run from Jan 26 to Feb 4 at The Float @ Marina Bay. It will open from 2pm to 11pm daily and extend till 1am only on the eve of Chinese New Year (Jan 27). Admission is free.