Lantern Festivals In Malaysia This Chinese New Year

My favourite part of Chinese New Year?!

It has to be the lantern festivals that light up temples around the country. The glow of thousands of lanterns that brighten a night sky is breathtaking.

If you haven’t yet been this year, you still have the duration of CNY to take the family out and enjoy this stunning sight!

Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur is simply amazing and one that we make a trip to regularly with visiting friends and family. For those wanting to venture a little further, the lantern festivals at both Fo Guang Shan and Kek Sok Li Temple Penang also look stunning in these photos below and I’ll have to pop them in my to-do-list!

Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen in Jenjarom (Kuala Langat) have their CNY Lantern & Flora Festival running until the 19th of February 2019. Photos courtesy of Jenjarom

Wherever you go, whatever you do, enjoy the festivities with your friends and family this Chinese New Year, S x

Kek Lok Si Temple Penang 槟城鹤山極樂寺

Don’t Miss This Amazing Lantern Festival in KL for Chinese New Year

Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple, oh my goodness, why have I never heard of this place?

Last week I featured Thean Hou Temple for its magnificent display of lanterns for Chinese New Year which we visit yearly. Then, one of my kind followers here on Kuala Lumpur Kids, pointed me in the direction of FGS Dong Zen Temple and told me that this is not to be missed!

Located in Jenjarom in Selangor their impressive Lantern and Flora Festival starts this 14th of February and runs until 4th of March 2018. I find it hard to believe that I have NEVER been to this temple or their CNY event, but it looks amazing!

I’ve had to do a bit of research on the lantern festival and have shared some photos that I found on their FB page from previous years. It looks like it would be a beautiful event for the whole family and the perfect opportunity for some colourful photos.

They’ve published a full schedule of events with performances and everything else so I have included this in my photos below. If anyone goes, please let me know how it is!! If I weren’t at the Winter Olympics, I’d be there myself for their opening night! S x

See Thean Hou Temple Glow this Chinese New Year

Thean Hou Temple, what can I say?

When it comes to Chinese New Year in Kuala Lumpur, this is my absolute number one place to visit.

With both the temple, and the road leading up the hill, being turned into an amazing sea of red lanterns, the atmosphere is quite magical. Go in the day, or in the evening, but whenever you go, you’ll be in for a real treat.

This year the celebrations will start from the 15th of February and will run until the 2nd of March.

In addition to the stunning display of lanterns, there’ll be dances, opera, and drum shows, taking us on a journey back in time to how the festivities unfolded in the olden days.

Don’t miss seeing the temple in all its glory this Chinese New Year, S x

If you somehow missed all the Chinese New Year celebrations, or you need one final performance to enjoy, fear not!  
Desa ParkCity has the return of their Lion Dance at The WaterFront this coming Sunday at 6pm. With the opportunity to see The God of Prosperity, take the family along this weekend for the sights and sounds of their show. Enjoy! S x

Penang for Chinese New Year. Sights not to be missed!

If you’re in Penang for the festivities this weekend, there are two places you just can’t miss!
The Penang Chinese New Year Lantern event is back for its second year and will be an amazing display of uniquely designed lanterns at Dewan Sri Pinang. Entry is completely free and the area will be lit from 7pm to midnight daily, as of the 26th of January 2017.

 

Photo courtesy of Penang CNY Lanterns 2017

 
Another sight to be seen is Kek Lok Si temple complex in all its glory decorated with 10,000 beautiful coloured lanterns. I’ve never seen the temple during Chinese New Year but the photos I’ve seen are simply stunning and I so want to go!

 

Photo courtesy of Kek Lok Si Temple

 
Anyone in Penang this weekend?! Enjoy it, it should be amazing, S x

  

An underwater Lion Dance for Chinese New Year in KL!

Last week it was a Lion Dance on ice, but this week I bring you the ultimate in original.

Aquaria KLCC is offering an ‘Under Sea Opera’ which will include a scuba diving Monkey King and an underwater lion dance!!

I  If you were anyway planning on heading to the aquarium, make sure you join in the activities that they have running now until February in honour of Chinese New Year. Check out their FB page (https://www.facebook.com/AquariaKLCC/?fref=ts) for more details so you don’t miss out on performance times! S x

Malacca at Chinese New Year: A Lion Dance not to be missed.

  

While Kuala Lumpur is alive with Chinese New Year activities, don’t forget that another popular spot to feel the vibe is in Malacca. Chinatown and the infamous Jonker Street are two places not to miss as the festivities take over.  
We were fortunate enough to be at the Maritime Museum last year where they held a fabulous Lion Dance right on the water front. It was a beautiful setting to watch the performance with fire crackers, music and lots of interaction with these colourful creatures!! 

 For anyone unfamiliar with this tradition, a lion dance (accompanied by an orchestra ) is performed to chase away evil and to bring luck upon the audience. Not solely seen at Chinese New Year, but also at weddings and other family celebrations. 

   
These uplifting performances will be seen over the coming weeks in malls, at museums, at temples, and bring a true dash of colour to your day and the kids generally love it!

Enjoy delving into the festivities this year, S x

   

Thean Hou Temple; the lantern festival not to be missed.

Celebrating Chinese New Year in KL wouldn’t be the same without the obligatory trip up to the magnificent Thean Hou Temple.  

For me, there is nowhere else that pulls off such an incredible display of colour as this temple, and their lantern festival is something that you absolutely CANNOT miss. 

  
Go day or night to witness thousands upon thousands of red lanterns that will adorn the sky in the lead up to the celebrations. 

  
While it is a popular location and it can be busy, we tend to go before sunset and make the most of seeing the blue skies turn to a darker shade and then be lit up by the red glow of the lanterns. 

  
Our children love going up to this temple and always get involved in the proceedings so it’s definitely a great experience for the whole family, as well as a stunning spot for some beautiful photos. 

  
Thean Hou temple is the must-see spot for a truly amazing experience, S x

  

Chinese New Year begins in Kuala Lumpur

With the exception of Christmas, my absolute favourite celebration is Chinese New Year. Red and gold lanterns will adorn streets and temples, the malls will be decorated from top to bottom, and my children will drag me along to see every lion and dragon dance performance in the city…. and I wouldn’t have it any other way; I love it!   
I’ll be putting together a few posts this week so get ready for a showering of glowing lanterns and colourful offerings, to help you try out some of our favourite spots for bringing in the year of the Rooster, S x