| By Azlan Othman
Singapore will kick off the
upcoming Lunar New Year with its grandest and longest Lunar New
Year light-up from Jan 11 to Feb 15, 2003, Singapore Tourism
Board said in a statement.
Stretching over two kilometres
from South Bridge Road to Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge
Road, this year's light up spans an area five times larger than
last year's event and will see some 600 lanterns and colourful
goat motifs adorn the streets of Chinatown.
The light-up will be launched
on Jan 11 by its Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong,
during a switch-on ceremony to be held at Garden Bridge, Pagoda
Street in Chinatown. Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB)
since 1985, the annual Lunar New Year Light-Up is a much
anticipated and popular event among locals and tourists.
For the first time,
Singaporeans and visitors can also take part in the Lunar New
Year Mega Sale. The sale, organised by the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng
Citizens' Consultative Committee and the Chinatown Lunar New
Year Festival 2003 Organising Committee, will see more than
1,000 retailers across Chinatown offer discounts of up to 80 per
cent to shoppers for goods ranging from apparel, jewellery and
traditional handicrafts to foodstuff.
Apart from the sale, there are
other events such as the "Lunar New Year Carnival" and
"Kreta Ayer Lunar New Year Countdown" and activities
such as street stalls and stage performances and entertainment
to bring the festive mood alive. Other highlights this year
include the "Oriental Revolution" - a fashion event
showcasing traditional Oriental garments with a modern twist -
and the "Lunar New Year Photography Competition".
Mr Lim Chwee Seng, STB's
Director of Events Marketing, said: "The Lunar New Year
Light-up has always had a strong appeal to both the local
residents and visitors from overseas. With the range of events
and activities that has been put together, this year's light-up
promises to be even more exciting and colourful.
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