Taking place from 30th January to 1st February 2026 at SCCC and Singapore Conference Hall,  featuring a total of 25 cultural programmes, such as children theatre performances, storytelling experiences, carousel rides, interactive photo booths and family-friendly workshops. These programmes are designed to make traditions enjoyable and engaging for today’s Singaporeans, young and old.

SCCC CNYFF 2026

Featuring a total of 25 cultural programmes, here is a list of SCCC CNYFF 2026 programmes, there are both free activities and ticketed activities. 

List of SCCC CNYFF 2026 Free Activities 

• Finding Har马ny
• Year of the Horse Zodiac Forecast 
• “Roaring Good Times”: Lion Dance Showcases 
• “MA”rvellous Mission
• Huat-goes-round Carousel
• Photos for Prosperity Booths
• The “MA”rket Place
• “Nian” Is Coming (Part 2): Journey Back Home
• TGIF Music Station (CNY Edition)
• Tradition in Motion: Singapore’s Lion Dance Heritage

List of SCCC CNYFF 2026 Ticketed Activities 

• Cubs on the Move: Children’s Lion Dance Workshop 
• Dragon Up the Fun: Children’s Dragon Dance Workshop
• “Gong Xi, Gone Where?”: A Roving Storytelling Experience
• Rhapsodies of Spring 2026 (SOLD OUT)
• Treasures of Chinese Temples Tour

SCCC CNYFF 2026 Key Programme Highlights

There’s a great lineup of programmes on offer at SCCC CNYFF 2026, which programmes should we go? Here are some key programme highlights for you and your family!

Free

Finding Har马ny

One of the key highlights of CNYFF 2026, SCCC’s annual CNY roof garden art installation titled, Finding Har马ny. Check out the bright and colourful horse sculptures grazing and galloping across SCCC’s roof garden. 

Explore the Year of the Horse artworks with your family, have lots of fun, take photos and memories together, find out more about Year of the Horse Zodiac forecast.

On display till 20th May 2026, from 10am to 10pm daily.

“Roaring Good Times”: Lion Dance Showcases (Don’t Miss This!)

A key highlight of CNYFF 2026 will be “Roaring Good Times”: Lion Dance Showcases by five different local lion dance troupes, taking place on 31st January 2026 and 1st February 2026, from 1pm to 7pm, at SCCC’s Level 1 Concourse. 

Local lion dance styles, namely Fujian Green Lion Dance, Hainanese Lion Dance, Hakka Qilin Dance, Golden Lion Dance and Fo He Lion Dance, will showcase the diversity and vibrance of various lion dance styles here in Singapore. 

Don’t miss this “Roaring Good Times”: Lion Dance Showcases on 31st January 2026 and 1st February 2026!

“MA”rvellous Mission 

Make it a family fun activity at SCCC CNYFF 2026, embark on a fun-filled mission-based quest across SCCC, complete selected CNY activities to collect stamps to redeem festive rewards such as limited edition festive red packets (whilst stocks last), or a drink voucher (while stocks last).

The “MA”rket Place

Visitors to SCCC CNYFF 2026 can take part in craft activities such as couplet writing and seal stamping, accessories making and colouring with your family, relatives and friends. Enjoy CNY-themed theatre performances and sample complimentary festive snacks.

Ticketed

• Cubs on the Move: Children’s Lion Dance Workshop  
• Dragon Up the Fun: Children’s Dragon Dance Workshop

Fun programmes for the children! They can learn basic lion and dragon dance movements from experienced instructors, and try playing traditional drums and cymbals. 

“Gong Xi, Gone Where?”: A Roving Storytelling Experience

Children can join Xiao Ming on a fun-filled adventure and search for three characters hidden throughout SCCC to uncover the meanings behind three special CNY greetings!

Treasures of Chinese Temples Tour

Join a fascinating tour of Chinese temples located in Singapore’s CBD, discover their rich history, heritage, culture, and traditions, including how they prepare for and celebrate CNY!

Here is the list of temples to visit:

• Kheng Chiu Tin Hou Kong
• Yueh Hai Ching Temple
• Singapore Yu Huang Gong
• Thian Hock Keng
• Fook Tet Soo Hakka Temple

Tour is conducted in Mandarin, taking place on Sunday 25th January 2026 from 10am to 12pm. Meeting point is SCCC Ho Bee Concourse, Level 1.

SCCC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alvin Tan, said: “This year, we are not only bringing festive cheer to the CBD and celebrating Chinese New Year in uniquely Singaporean ways – we are also shining the spotlight on our local lion dance troupes and showcasing the variety of lion dance styles practised in Singapore including the familiar southern lion dance, and the less common Hainan Lion and the Fujian Green Lion. In doing so, we hope to present lion dance as an enduring artform and a cultural heritage that Singaporeans can be proud of.”

SCCC & SCO CNY Family FUN (CNYFF) 2026 Information

Dates: 30th January to 1st February 2026

Venues: 

• Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre 
• Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall
• Singapore Conference Hall

For more information and details on CNYFF 2026, please visit SCCC website – https://singaporeccc.org.sg/ 

The post SCCC & SCO CNY Family FUN 2026 – Diverse Lion Dance and Many More! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Yearly Theme 2025 (Photography | Travel | Creative | Heritage) – “Create”

At the beginning of the year 2025, I wrote about my Yearly Theme 2025 (Photography | Travel | Creative | Heritage), I chose “Create”.

I wanted to create more stories with my interactions with other creative from other genres and industries. In 2025, through the different genres of wonderful programmes, exhibitions, and performances at SCCC, I have found myself getting deeper into some sectors of my Chinese history, heritage, culture, society and language, that I haven’t really go in-depth.

One of them was learning more about Chinese opera (and I still have a long way to go), fulfilling my local Nanyang kopi pilgrimage that I wanted to do years back (some would know what I am referring to!), watching contemporary Chinese dance and cultural performances that made me realised that there are so much more talent that deserves more coverage and recognition.

Although my stories and coverage of the various SCCC events that I attended in 2025 were more of visual storytelling, I hope that through my humble stories and photos, I have helped to create more awareness and publicity, especially for those organisations and programmes that need more publicity and awareness of the wonderful stuff they are doing for the history, heritage, culture and language sectors in Singapore. 

TGH Photography SCCC Events 2025 Wrapped 

Inspired by my Spotify “Your 2025 Wrapped), presenting my TGH Photography SCCC Events 2025 Wrapped, let’s go back in time for a recap of SCCC events that I attended/covered in 2025.

Recap of SCCC Events 2025

Festivals

1. SCCC CNYFF 2025 – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/photography/celebrate-chinese-new-year-2025-the-singapo%e4%ba%ba-way-in-cbd 
2. SCCC Cultural Extravaganza 2025 – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/arts/sccc-cultural-extravaganza-2025-returns-from-9-may-to-7-june 
3. Chinese Opera Festival 2025 – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/heritage/sccc-and-nac-collaborate-to-debut-chinese-opera-festival-2025 
4. SCCC Mid-Autumn Festival Family Fun (MAFF) 2025 – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/events/celebrate-mid-autumn-family-fun-2025-at-sccc-and-sco-on-4-5-october 
5. REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover 2025 – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/photojournalism/remix-singapo%e4%ba%ba-youth-takeover-at-sccc-expect-the-unexpected 
6. SCCC Winter Solstice SG60 Community Celebration Event 2025 – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/heritage/sccc-winter-solstice-sg60-community-celebration-event-2025 

Exhibitions and Talks

1. The Nanyang Breakfast Club: Let’s Lim Kopi & Jiak Roti! – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/heritage/come-lim-kopi-and-jiak-roti-at-the-nanyang-breakfast-club 
2. City SingaPOP – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/photojournalism/see-how-city-singapop-in-a-very-colourful-artistic-different-light 
3. Healing Heritage: A Journey Through the Evolution of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Singapore – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/heritage/sccc-presents-healing-heritage-story-of-tcm-in-singapore 
4. Brewing Nostalgia: Kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand Special Exhibition – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/heritage/a-special-exhibition-on-traditional-kopitiams-of-singapore-malaysia-and-thailand 
5. Tradition in Motion: Singapore’s Lion Dance Heritage Exhibition – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/heritage/special-exhibition-at-sccc-tradition-in-motion-singapores-lion-dance-heritage 
6. Chingay in Singapore and Malaysia Seminar
7. SG, You’ve Got Mail!
8. Built on Memory: Tracing Singapore’s CBD Through Time

Arts 

1. Intersections – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/arts/intersections-by-dance-ensemble-singapore-at-sccc-cultural-extravaganza-2025 
2. World Mental Health Day 2025: Currents of Care by Very Small Exhibition – https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/photojournalism/world-mental-health-day-2025 
3. Drum Feng EP1 – Xiangqi: The Battle of the Drums  

My Key Memorable Highlights from my SCCC 2025 Visual Storytelling Journeys 

Personally for me, this list of SCCC events below that I attended in 2025 were my key memorable highlights for me in my SCCC 2025 visual storytelling journeys.

Exhibitions and Talks

• The Nanyang Breakfast Club: Let’s Lim Kopi & Jiak Roti!
• Brewing Nostalgia: Kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand Special Exhibition

The above two exhibitions fulfilled my local Nanyang kopi pilgrimage journey that I started around a decade back, wanting to know and explore more about local Nanyang kopi history, heritage and culture.

Celebrating Our Arts

• Intersections
• Drum Feng EP1 – Xiangqi: The Battle of the Drums

I wasn’t much into performing arts, whether they are traditional or contemporary. In 2025, I was introduced to more performing arts, from traditional to contemporary. There were two arts performances, Intersections and Drum Feng EP1 – Xiangqi: The Battle of the Drums, leaving deep impressions inside me.

From learning, understanding and appreciating traditional and contemporary arts performances, there’s also a inner connection with my creative and visual storytelling that opens up new perspectives and approaches inside me.

Celebrating Our Festivals 

• CNYFF 2025
• MAFF 2025
• SCCC Winter Solstice SG60 Community Celebration Event 2025

Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival are two major cultural events inside SCCC lineup, attracting visitors and participation. The SCCC Winter Solstice SG60 Community Celebration Event in 2025 was unique and fun, hope they can keep it going and make it an annual Winter Solstice event at SCCC!  

Sneak Preview of SCCC Events 2026

SCCC in Year 2025 organised a diverse and exciting lineup of different programmes, exhibitions, talks, festivals, and performances, setting a high standard and benchmark to follow up in the coming year 2026. 

For Year 2026, SCCC has an extensive, an even more diverse and exciting lineup, here’s a sneak preview of SCCC events 2026! I would not go into too much details on the listing below, stay curious, stay tuned, follow SCCC on their social media channels for more updates and information on the SCCC events 2026 lineup closer to the event dates!

Exhibitions and Talks

• Singapore TV: From Local to Global Special Exhibition (July 2026 to January 2027)
• Heroic Moves Travelling Exhibition (April to October 2026)
• Common Ground Artspace Exhibition (April 2026 to April 2027)
• Chinatowns of the World International Conference (17 and 18 October 2026)

Festivals – Celebrating Our Arts

• Children’s Festival 2026 (Title TBC) (19 to 21 June)
• Cultural Extravaganza 2026 (7 May to 7 June)
• REMIX 2026 (July)

Programmes – Celebrating Our Festivals

• Zhongyuan Festival (17 to 23 August)
• CNY Family FUN 2026 (30 January to 1 February)
• Mid-Autumn Family FUN 2026 (19 to 20 September)

Programmes – Celebrating Our Music

• Sing浪 Concert (31 October)
• TGIF Music Station (April to March 2027)
• SG:SW | Write The Songs Finale Concert (October)
• Happy Sing-Along (April to March 2027)
• Tuesday Report Documentary on Xinyao/Local Chinese Songs (March)

My TGH Photography SCCC Events 2025 Wrapped

The sleeping dragon of SCCC has now awakened, under the leadership, direction and creative vision of Mr Alvin Tan, who took over as the CEO of SCCC in June 2024. SCCC has risen tall and proud, setting an exemplary example, showcasing the foundation, stage and direction of preserving history, heritage, traditions, striking a balance in modern times together with internet and social media. They are creating new directions for the future with its good mix of balancing tradition and modern exhibitions, programmes, performances, relating to Chinese history, heritage, culture, society and language all under one roof. 

What lies ahead for my TGH Photography x SCCC visual storytelling in 2026? Photos from my collection from attending those events at SCCC are gradually uploaded into this Flickr collection “Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre”. 

I hope to tell much deeper and more heartwarming stories from my interactions and connections, at the events, exhibitions, talks, and maybe special theme projects if the opportunity arises. 

Thank you Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre for an amazing, fun and great visual storytelling journey in 2025, inside my TGH Photography SCCC Events 2025 Wrapped!

The post My SCCC Events 2025 Wrapped and Sneak Preview of SCCC Events 2026 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

SCCC Winter Solistice SG60 Event 2025

The SCCC Winter Solistice SG60 event took place on 21st December 2025, SCCC and its community partners achieved two new Singapore Book of Records title, marking a festive finale to SCCC’s year long SG60 celebrations.

Close to 200 participants from organisations such as Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA), The Peranakan Association Singapore, Anandha Traditional Arts & Music Ltd (ATAM), Singapore Cancer Society, and Brighton Connections, came together to make 12 different varieties of tangyuan, celebrating cultural unity and shared heritage. 

SCCC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alvin Tan, said, “During the Winter Solstice, the making and eating of tangyuan signify reunion, and foster a sense of kinship. It is therefore apt that SCCC celebrates the festival with our community partners and friends from different ethnic communities, and together, mark the culmination of our SG60 commemorative events by gifting Singapore with two new records.” 

Understanding and Learning more about Winter Solstice (Beyond just eating)

For many of us, during 冬至 (Winter Solstice), while we know about the traditions and significance of this day, we probably look forward more to eating more tangyuan instead.

There was a great sharing by Kok Leong at the start of this special Winter Solstice event, on “The Art and Science of Winter Solstice – A beautiful blend of astronomy and culture”. The highlight for me from this sharing was the varieties of tangyuan on offer! 

There were 12 varieties of tangyuan, namely plain with no filling, black sesame paste, white sesame paste filling, red bean paste filling, peanut filling, lotus seed paste filling, green tea paste, fried tangyuan, chocolate filling, sweet potato filling, Hakka (Vegetarian) and Peranakan. 

SCCC x Singapore Book of Records 

The experienced and friendly Chefs were on hand to share and guide us on our tangyuan making experience, with facilitators on hand at each table to also help guide us throughout the process. Thereafter, we began our tangyuan making adventures! 

Some of us like myself, I don’t recall having much hands on experience making tangyuan. Together with the rest of the guests at SCCC Winter Solstice SG60 event, we came together and rolled out 168 bowls of tangyaun, arranged to form a 2.4m by 2.4m SG60 logo as a gift to Singapore marking Singapore’s 60th year of independence.

We got ourselves entered (through our participation) into Singapore Book of Records for the “Most Varieties of Tangyuan Made at an Event” and “Largest SG60 Logo Made from Bowls of Tangyuan”.

All these were completed in an hour as 12 professional chefs prepared the soup bases while the guests were all hands on deck simultaneously carving out the pre-prepared dough and assigned fillings to make the tangyuan. 

Once the completed tangyuan were cooked, they were scooped into bowls arranged to form the words “SG60” in the SG60 logo.

Marking SCCC Winter Solstice SG60 Celebrations (and eating tangyuan) 

Since we made into the Singapore Book of Records, we must take a big community group (happy family reunion) photo!, to mark this unique and special SCCC Winter Solstice SG60 celebrations. Of course, once the photo taking formalities were done, we went straight for the tables that were cooking the different tangyuan, attempting to try as many different varieties of tangyuan on offer!

Personally, I was very keen on the Hakka and Peranakan tangyuan, I have never heard or know about those two varieties of tangyuan. Alas, my fellow guests also had the same thoughts as me, many queuing up to try those two.

Although I didn’t get to taste the Hakka and Peranakan tangyuan, I still got to eat other varieties of tangyuan to celebrate Winter Solstice 2025 with my family, and group of heritage and cultural kakis.

Make this Community Level Winter Solstice Celebration at SCCC a regular annual event!

This fun, unique, fun and enjoyable hands on Winter Solstice SG60 celebration event organised by SCCC, I feel this event deserves to be a regular annual event at SCCC, where we can bring different communities, organisations, friends and supporters from different dialect and ethnic communities to come together for a community level of cross cultural interaction, building community bonds through this special gathering and reunion, getting hands on action in the making and tasting of tangyuan.

I also learned much more about Winter Solstice (冬至), beyond just family reunion and kinship, the deeper cultural significance and varieties of tangyuan made by different dialect groups. 

Thank you Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre for planning and organising a uniquely Singapo人 community festival, the SCCC Winter Solstice SG60 Community Celebration Event 2025!

Wishing all a Happy Winter Solstice 2025, may this season of reunion bring you, your family and loved ones, warmth, harmony, and good health! 

祝大家冬至快乐，团团圆圆，冬至安康！  

The post SCCC Winter Solstice SG60 Community Celebration Event 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Tradition in Motion: Singapore’s Lion Dance Heritage Special Exhibition

This special exhibition at SCCC features over 50 artefacts, photographs, posters and figurines, highlighting the enduring significance and contributions of lion dance in Singapore, its diversity, innovations, and achievements of local lion dance troupes. 

A display of eight lion heads anchor this special exhibition, representing the variety of lion dance styles practised in Singapore, including the familiar southern lion dance, and the less common Hainan Lion and the Fujian Green Lion.

Learn about Singapore’s Lion Dance Heritage through three main zones

Learn more about Singapore’s lion dance heritage through three main thematic zones.

Zone 1: History, Traditions and Customs of Lion Dance in Singapore

The first zone explores the history, traditions and customs of lion dance in Singapore. They also reveal the intricate craft of lion head making, featuring a lion head made by Singapore’s last lion head craftsman, Henry Ng, shown in its first and final stages of production.

Zone 2: Singapore’s Lion Dance Culture Today 

The second zone explores Singapore’s lion dance culture as it continues to thrive in today’s Singapore. In this zone, visitors can view the Genting World Lion Dance Trophies won by Yiwei Athletic Association in 2023 and 2025. Visitors can also learn how our local lion dance troupes continue to embrace diversity by opening its doors to members of all ages and ethnicities, and adapting lion dance routines for senior performers. 

Zone 3: Pop-Culture Representations of Lion Dance 

The third zone showcases pop-culture representations of lion dance that highlight contemporary culture’s ongoing fascination with lion dance. Check out the vintage posters of films such as Once Upon a Time in China III to limited edition collectibles such as the Unipolar Fortune (Me)lion Dance figurine.

This special exhibition showcases lion dance as an enduring source of inspiration for cultural offerings.

SCCC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alvin Tan, said, “Through the exhibition, we hope that visitors can learn more about lion dance, including its early roots, the unique traits of lion dance in Singapore, how it continues to be manifested through popular culture, and more. We also hope that visitors will not only feel proud of the achievements of our local lion dance troupes, but be inspired by their resilience and ongoing efforts to ensure that lion dance becomes not only an enduring art form but a cultural heritage that Singaporeans can be proud of.”

The key highlight for me from this exhibition has to be the display of eight lion heads anchoring this special exhibition. How often do you get to see lion dance troupes from different organisations/origins come together for an exhibition (or gathering) like this, beside lion dance competitions? This special exhibition might look small in size, however it is packed with rich and diverse content, on the history, heritage, culture, and stories of lion dance in Singapore. 

Come on down and visit Tradition in Motion: Singapore’s Lion Dance Heritage Special Exhibition, explore and learn for yourself, together with your family, and loved ones, how traditional art form of lion dance continues to innovate, and how it remains a vibrant symbol of culture, resilience and community spirit.

Definitely worth a visit to SCCC to check out this special exhibition on lion dance, there are other exhibitions ongoing as well. Just nice, it can form part of your family’s preparation for CNY 2026, to learn more about Chinese history, heritage, and culture. 

Tradition in Motion: Singapore’s Lion Dance Heritage Special Exhibition

• Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) Concourse Level 1
• Dates: 11th December 2025 to 30th April 2026
• Opening Hours: 9am to 10pm
• Admission is free.

The post Special Exhibition at SCCC – Tradition in Motion: Singapore’s Lion Dance Heritage appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

60 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Singapore and Thailand

This special exhibition is the first collaboration between SCCC with the High Commission of Malaysia and the Royal Thai Embassy Singapore, to commemorate the establishment of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Singapore and Thailand.

According to Mr Alvin Tan, CEO/SCCC: “There is no better way to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the two countries than with a photography exhibition on traditional kopitiams which can be found in all three countries. This is because kopitiams not only represent a common cultural experience shared by our three countries, they also symbolise the warm ties between our countries that endure even with the passing of time.” 

Mrs. Chonlatee Chanrachakul, Charge d’Affaires a.i. from Royal Thai Embassy Singapore said: “Kopitiams are more than just coffee shops; they are the enduring social pulse of our communities and a testament to the rich, interwoven cultural heritage of Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. This exhibition, marking 60 years of diplomatic relations, invites everyone to savor the shared taste of Nanyang coffee and kaya toast—a sweet reminder that our deep history and warm friendships are beautifully brewed together.”

24 B&W Photographs of various Traditional Kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand

This exhibition features 24 black-and-white photographs of various traditional kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, taken by award-winning travel photographer and write Lester V. Ledesma over a period of more than a year.

This series of black and white photographs of traditional kopitiams honours the region’s vibrant kopitiam culture. They are well-cherished and well-loved community gathering spaces, enduring icons of Southeast Asia lifestyle. 

Lester shot the photographs on black-and-white film using vintage cameras as a timeless tribute to the iconic yet humble kopitiam that we in Southeast Asia loved so much, authentically capturing the character, raw charm and kopitiam lifestyle, beautifully showcased across the different 24 black-and-white photographs on display.

Photographer Mr Lester V. Ledesma shared: “I started this project in early 2024 at a humble Singapore coffeehouse, with a roll of black-and-white film and a 70-years-old rangefinder camera. Brewing Nostalgia is my way of celebrating what has been part of my life in the two-plus decades that I’ve lived in Singapore and I am thankful to SCCC for their support in showcasing our rich, authentic and truly homegrown coffee heritage.” 

Nostalgic Memories – Planning to Re-Explore my Old Places and Traditional Kopitiams 

Looking at the different traditional kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, it brought back nostalgic memories of my childhood and travel days. The rustic, old school, laid back kopitiams, with their iconic wooden furniture, white marble table top, sipping my Nanyang kopi, with kaya bread toast and soft boiled eggs. 

In Singapore, there aren’t many traditional kopitiams around, most of them have changed with the modern times. Although I have visited some of the remaining traditional kopitiams in Singapore at North Bridge Road, Tanglin Halt and Lengkok Bahru, I have yet to check out the kopitiams at Jalan Benaan Kapal and Jalan Minyak. 

This is the time to reignite my nostalgic memories to re-explore those traditional kopitiams and old places in Singapore. 

As for those traditional kopitiams in Malaysia and Thailand, I will definitely keep a lookout for them when I travel and visit both countries again.

Brewing Nostalgia: Kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand Special Exhibition

• Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Concourse, Level 1
• Dates: 3rd December 2025 to 30th April 2026
• Admission: Free

The post A Special Exhibition on Traditional Kopitiams of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography

Photography Competitions/Contests

The last few photography competitions leading up to the end of 2025. Here are the ones that I am working on in November 2025 till December 2025 

Concrete in Life 2526

A global photography competition that I found out last year or so, I would be joining and participating in Concrete in Life 2526. While I am not really an architectural photographer, I regularly take cityscapes and travel photography, where concrete plays an important role in the building of a country and society, from roads, bridges, to the homes in the cities that we live in. 

Sony World Photography Awards 2025

A worldwide photography contest that I have been regularly participating in over the years. I am in the process of curating and selecting my photographs for submission to Sony World Photography Awards 2025 in December 2025 before the closing date. If you are keen to participate in Sony World Photography Awards 2025, do check them out!

Civic District in Focus 2025

I recently joined a night photography event, Civic District in Focus 2025 by Arts House Group. It was more of a fun photo night walk, exploring Civic District in a new light, views and perspectives, even though I had been photographing events and heritage buildings in the Civic District over past two decades. 

There is a photography contest, it’s a public voting contest and winners stand a chance to win Fujifilm X Half Cameras. I am excited to share my 4 photography entires featuring:

• The Arts House at The Old Parliament 
• Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall
• Asian Civilisations Museum 
• National Gallery Singapore

Please show some love and support for my entires! Vote here -> https://artshousegroup.sg/civic-district/cvd-in-focus-2025/voting?searchName=GengHui 

Thank you for your support! 

Exhibitions 

1st National Photography Art Exhibition (NPAE) 2025 9th to 12th October 2025

The 1st National Photography Art Exhibition (NPAE) 2025 was held from 9th to 12th October 2025 at The Art Space SG. I have a photograph selected for display at NPAE 2025, it’s a great honour and I would like to thank the panel for selecting my photograph to be part of 1st National Photography Art Exhibition celebrating SG60.

Visual Storytelling / Content Creation

Still Working on my SG60 Visual Storytelling Personal Project 

I am still working on my SG60 visual storytelling personal project, consolidation of my photos shot in 2025 as part of SG60, curation of photographs shot over the decades for consideration that would be selected for SG60 my personal project.

Given my current progress, the constraints on hand, I am most likely to start on my SG60 visual storytelling project after the year 2025 has ended.

Travel Photography and Content Creation

It’s time to finally give myself a short overseas travel break, and to finally revive my travel photography and content creation. I don’t have to necessarily do long distance travel, a short and mid haul travel would be just perfect. 

Started Migratory Bird Photography Season Q3 2025 to Q1 2026

Although my migratory bird photography season started a bit earlier in September 2025, I have gradually picked up my pace, planning more visits to different locations, from nature reserves, parks, park connector networks/rivers and coastlines in the coming months. 

I would also continue to keep a lookout for other wildlife in Singapore too during my photo walks, looking forward to adding more birding and wildlife photography to my Bird/Wildlife Photography in Singapore collection on Flickr.

Heritage, Culture, Arts, Performing Arts and Creative Sectors

While I am continuing to work on curating and uploading more photos into my Flickr photography collections and writing my visual stories here on my TGH Photography and Travel website, I am looking at potential areas to work on, partnerships and collaborations, and hopefully commissioned/long term projects with artists, creatives and organisations in the arts, performing arts, heritage and culture sectors. 

There is Secrets Behind the Artisan event organised by Chinatown Heritage Centre, uncovering the untold stories, history, heritage, culture, traditions, and passions behind highly skilled and experienced artisans in Singapore. I attended 2 of them, it was really enjoyable, learned so much more about our intangible cultural heritage, catching up with fellow friends in the history, heritage, culture and preservation sectors. 

Of Other Thoughts and Views

SG60 photography competitions and exhibitions journey till date 

This year 2025 has been significant in its own way for Singapore and also for us photographers here, there were a number of SG60 theme photography competitions and exhibitions. I participated in a number of those photography competitions and exhibitions, here’s a quick round up till date.

I didn’t win any prizes for those SG60 photography competitions (till date for this year 2025), I have 2 photographs selected for exhibition, 20th Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition and 1st National Photography Art Exhibition, I have a photograph printed on display, shortlisted for the top 20 entries in the NUSPS Montage 2025 photography competition. 

Although I didn’t win any prizes, with two photographs selected, printed and exhibited at two exhibitions, I am absolutely delighted, it’s an honour, a humbling experience, adding on to my list of photography achievements.

A Gentle Reminder to Everyone

I shared about AikBeng’s quotes inside this CNA Insider video, “There is beauty in imperfection”, “Don’t judge people”, “We Shouldn’t Compare”

A gentle reminder to everyone with those quotes, it hit me deep, time to stop chasing perfection, and be mindful of the comparisons and judgements that we faced on social media and what we might face from people from all walks of life.

Time to unleash my visual storytelling and creativity as I continue to work towards the finishing line of my final sprint to end of Year 2025.

The post Photography / Visual Storytelling / Content Creation Themes and Plans for November 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover 2025

Taking place from 17th October to 26th October 2025, REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover 2025 festival will activate unconventional spaces within the SCCC building for visitors to explore and discover local Chinese arts and culture in new and surprising ways.

Here are some key highlights of REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover that you might be interested in!

Party Ground @ SCCC

One of the key highlights of REMIX 2025 is Party Ground @ SCCC! There are two weekend sober parties where the festival takes over the SCCC Concourse in a dynamic mash-up of live music, craft activities, street art, delicious eats, dance performances and battles, and more!

She’s in the Third Stall (Ticketed)

Another key highlight will be an immersive theatre experience that transforms SCCC’s toilet into a site of mystery. She’s in the Third Stall will invite you to take on the role of a special agent and navigate ghostly myths, memories, and unspoken struggles of modern youth within the unconventional confines of a toilet. 

Say It Again: The Dialect Comeback Escape Room

As part of SCCC’s ongoing efforts to involve youths in co-creation of festival offerings, SCCC has collaborated with Ngee Ann Polytechnic students and The Escape Artist to design and present a dialect escape room adventure. 

Songs you Sing: Free Karaoke + The Record Shop of Memories

Karaoke fans rejoice, there will be a free karaoke zone available at SCCC’s Roof Garden for you to sing your favourite songs, record a Mandarin song cover, as well as customise and bring home unique mini CD-album keychain bag charms.

Spray and Paint Graffiti Workshop (Ticketed)

Want to discover and unleash your creativity using scary painting? Join Singapore street artist, ANTZ for a graffiti workshop at REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover 2025! 

charc+r The Great IP invasion! (Ticketed)

Fans of cute plushies, stickers, collectibles, you would be keen! A new festival is landing at SCCC during REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover 2025! A curated artist market, talks, and a showcase floor overrun by indie character IPs. 

charc+r celebrates original indie character IPs and the creators behind them. Time to celebrate creative artists and their amazing cute artistic works and collectibles (and fill up your space with their visually, culturally, creatively art works and collectibles). 

RE-MIX The Dance 2025

The much anticipated annual street dance competition, RE-MIX The Dance 2025, will return to REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover. Dancers and dance crews will battle it out in a Mandarin-inspired showdown. For RE-MIX The Dance 2025, the competition will include an “instrument blind box” twist that will test the dancers and dance groups’ creativity and skills. 

Introductory Dance Workshops

There will be a series of introductory dance workshops conducted, covering dance forms such as Jazz, Lindy Hop, Swing, Salsa, Bachata and Latin Dance. Workshop participants will also be taught basic moves as they groove to Mandarin and dialect songs in a unique East-meets-West format. 

According to Alvin Tan, CEO of SCCC: “Through this year’s REMIX and its programmes, we hope not only to provide a platform for diverse young artists and arts groups to showcase their talents and works, we also hope to provide spaces for youths to explore local Chinese culture with their friends and express themselves creatively. In doing so, we hope to show youths that encounters with Chinese culture can be fun, and to strengthen their interest in Singapore Chinese arts and culture.”

REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover 2025 Information

REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover 2025 is open to the public, offering a range of both free and ticketed programmes. For the full list of REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover 2025 programmes, ticketing and registration details, please visit https://singaporen.sg/remix. 

(Note: Eligible Singapore Citizens can use their SG Culture Pass credits to offset ticket costs for eligible REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover 2025 programmes)

The post REMIX: SINGAPO人 Youth Takeover at SCCC – Expect the Unexpected! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

SCCC presents Healing Heritage

Healing Heritage will be held from 1st October 2025 to 22nd February 2026 at SCCC Creative Box  at Level 6, this interesting, unique and immersive exhibition invites you to visit, explore and learn how TCM has evolved over the years in Singapore, blending tradition with innovation and staying relevant in today’s modern lifestyles.

Supported by Singapore Chinese Physicians’ Associations and Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution, Heeling Heritage highlights milestones in TCM’s development in Singapore, the impacts on the community, and how they are adapting to modern society. Through a diverse range of interpretive displays, historical artefacts, interactive experiences, and stories of medical organisations and brands, visitors can discover how TCM has evolved while remaining true in its cultural heritage as a living tradition in Singapore.

Discover TCM in Healing Heritage though five zones 

Tracking the Healing Journey

When and how did TCM in Singapore get started? Follow and track the Healing Journey, learn about TCM’s development in Singapore, from the early 19th century medical halls to its journey today recognition in today’s healthcare system. 

Some of the milestones include the founding of Thong Chai Medical Institution in 1867 and the recent inclusion of acupuncture under Medisave.

Encountering the Neighbourhood Healer 

This might be a familiar sight for some of us here, a nostalgic feeling on visiting your neighbourhood medical hall with its classic wooden cabinets and drawers of herbs. In this zone, enter into a recreated medical hall, similar to the ones that you visited (yourself, or with your parents or grandparents). 

Learn how family-run businesses adapted to changing times. Visitors can also try an interactive herb-matching game to learn about remedies hands-on. Check out the drawers too and the herbs on display. Does all these invoke nostalgia inside you, especially for those who are familiar with TCM medical halls?

Building Benevolence through Community

Discover the roles that charitable institutions and professional organisations in supporting healthcare during epidemics and raising standards through education and research. Exhibits include traditional acupuncture needles and early journals like Medical Monthly (Yiyao Yuekan)

Transforming Tradition Through Innovation

Even TCM has transformed itself through innovation, evolving with our modern life, from halal-certified remedies, to digital diagnostic tools and even vending machines. 

Have you heard of canine acupuncture? If you haven’t, check out how TCM can be adapted and applied in veterinary care. 

Sustaining a Living Heritage 

Learn and experience how TCM has underwent changes and innovations over time, continuing to be a part of everyday life, from medicinal cuisine and herbal products to social media outreach by young TCM physicians such as THE TCM FOLKS. 

Before you finish, discovering and learning about TCM, a conversation kiosk further invites you to reflect on your own encounters with TCM. 

According to Alvin Tan, CEO of SCCC: “With Healing Heritage, we hope to focus on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a system of medicine and as a form of intangible cultural heritage, and to showcase TCM’s contributions to the Chinese community and to society. We also hope to highlight TCM’s impact and use beyond the Chinese community, and to raise public awareness of how TCM has endured, evolved and become part of Singaporeans’ everyday life.”

My TCM Healing Heritage Stories

Looking back when I was a young kid, I don’t understand much about TCM, my encounters were mainly the strong aroma from the different kinds of herbs from a traditional medical hall. 

Drinking tonic soup made from those TCM herbs wasn’t a great experience as it was really bitter, There is a Chinese saying, “苦口良药”, it took me probably a few decades before I was able to understand and appreciate those bitter traditional Chinese soup. Nowadays, I am able to enjoy the medicinal cuisine dishes, although some of the TCM drinks are still really bitter and a challenge at times for me to drink it, even though it’s good for my health. 

My personal thoughts and views are that TCM is highly under-rated and under appreciated by many of us (I am guilty of this). This Healing Heritage exhibition presented by SCCC is really enriching and informative, showcasing the rich history, heritage, culture and importance of TCM from its origins to our modern society today.

Share this Healing Heritage presented by SCCC to your family, relatives and friends, make it an extended family outing to this exhibition, and share your nostalgic TCM Healing Heritage stories.

Healing Heritage Exhibition Information

• Date: 1st October 2025 to 22nd February 2026
• Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Creative Box, Level 6
• Price: Free

The post SCCC Presents Healing Heritage: Story of TCM in Singapore appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Theme: “Remembering the past and looking forward to the future”

The theme for the first National Photography Art Exhibition, “Remembering the past and looking forward to the future”, is a fitting theme for Singapore’s SG60 celebrations in 2025. All entries must have been taken in the last 60 years, showing the growth, development and change of Singapore in lifestyle, landscapes, nature, and others. 

Searching my photography archives – Which to pick?

The theme for the First National Photography Art Exhibition resonates with me personally and deeply, I have been documenting Singapore through my visual stories, from the disappearing old places, old playgrounds, the rail/green corridor, to the fields of history, heritage, culture, followed by new changes and developments in Singapore.

My digital archives started back in 2004, I would have enough to choose from for this exhibition. Some of my curated visual stories/photographs can be viewed in this Flickr collection – #OurSGHeritage.

“Remembering the past and looking forward to the future”, looking through my digital photography archives over the decades, which photograph should I choose to submit for this first National Photography Art Exhibition?

My photography submission is accepted! OurSG

Curating a few photographs from my archives over the decades, before a final selection on the photograph to submit. Finally, I decided on my Rochor Centre HDB flats in their iconic colours that I took in 2016. 

When I received an email from the organising committee that my photography submission was accepted, I was elated with pride and joy! Thereafter, it was administrative and liaison matters with the organising committee, and getting confirmation on the National Photography Art Exhibition dates, time and venue.

Official Opening of First National Photography Art Exhibition

The official opening of the First National Photography Art Exhibition took place on 9th October 2025. The guest-of-honour is Ms Goh Sze Kee, Member of Parliament for Mountbatten SMC.

There was a good crowd at The Art Space SG, although I don’t know everyone there, it was fun! Hearing the speeches by the organising committee, as well as from Ms Goh Sze Kee. There was a  heartwarming feel because we are all united and bonded by our love for photography, our own unique ways of visual storytelling, how and why we want to share our visual stories of Singapore’s past and looking to the future for Singapore’s generations ahead. 

It was great to meet up with fellow photographer friends whom also had their photography works selected for the First National Photography Art Exhibition. Congratulations to my photography friends, and also all the photographers whose photography works were selected for this exhibition. 

I had a good chat with Ms Goh when she was touring the exhibition, a quick sharing about my  photograph on Rochor Centre taken in 2016, the story behind this photo, and my documentation of old places/disappearing places in Singapore.

Wrapping up my Personal Thoughts and feelings

Viewing the different photography works on display, it did invoke some nostalgic memories, some venues/places are no longer around, gone forever into our archives, internet or books. 

Although I am filled with pride and joy on my photograph being selected for the First National Photography Art Exhibition, showcasing together with the rest of the amazing photography works on display, further reinforce my ongoing personal journey in visual storytelling and documenting old places, disappearing places, as well as new developments and changes in Singapore. 

Let’s continue to capturing priceless memories and moments, so we can continue to remember (and not forget about) the past, and also look forward to the future of Singapore’s growth, changes, and developments beyond SG60.

Thank you very much to the co-organisers of the National Photography Art Exhibition for selecting my photography work to be a part of the First National Photography Art Exhibition! 

First National Photography Art Exhibition Details

• Dates: 9th to 12th October 2025
• Opening Hours: 11am to 6pm
• Venue: The Art Space SG
• Address: 66 Kallang Pudding Road #01-01 Hor Kew Business Centre Singapore 349324

The post First National Photography Art Exhibition – Commemorating SG60 Nation Building appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Mid-Autumn Family FUN (MAFF) 2025

Mid-Autumn Family FUN (MAFF) 2025 is taking place over the weekend of 4th to 5th October 2025, this festival will feature a total of 27 diverse programmes, taking place in SCCC and Singapore Conference Hall (SCH) – This is the largest line-up of programmes for MAFF since its launch in 2023.

Key Highlights of MAFF 2025

Moongazing with Monday Bruce 

One of the key highlights of MAFF 2025 will be Moongazing with Monday Bruce, cute and adorable art installations at SCCC’s Roof Garden, they are five giant illuminated inflatables of Monday Bruce, the main rabbit character from a popular series of collectible blind boxes. They will be on display from 11th September to 30th November 2025, 10am to 10pm daily, at SCCC’s Roof Garden.

Remember to bring your lantern out for Moongazing with Monday Bruce! Pose for photos with Monday Bruce with your lanterns! Here are some photos that I took on how you can possibly interact with Monday Bruce with your lanterns! 

Show us your creativity and fun and share them with SCCC and SCO! Remember to tag SCCC and SCO, hashtag #MAFF2025 #MidAutumnFamilyFun #SINGAPO人 #SCCC #SingaporeChineseCulturalCentre 

Ancient Moon, Present Light

Another key highlights of MAFF 2025 will be SCO’s Ancient Moon, Present Light concert, they are allowing children under six years old – for the first time – to enjoy an evening of moonlit tunes. Under the baton of Associate Conductor Moses Gay, the concert will showcase a variety of familiar festive pieces for children and those young at heart to learn more about the world of Chinese orchestral music.

There are many more exciting and fun lineup of MAFF 2025 programmes, here are some other programme highlights that would be of interest to you:

Parent-Child Workshops

Great for families with children, a series of interactive hands-on sessions for parent-and-child or grandparent-and-children pairings to experience soap-making, tea-whisking and traditional Chinese medicine scented pouch making.

Rabbit’s Brew House

An experiential tea house at SCCC’s Multi-Purpose Hall bringing together mooncake sampling and tea tasting, crosstalk and Hanfu dance performances, Hanfu sharing and photo-taking, cellophane lantern-making and Chinese knot-making activities. 

Play It Chill 

Visitors can catch free performances and activities at SCCC’s Level 1 Concourse. They are suitable for all ages, ranging from drumming acts by Drum Feng, storytelling, poetry reciting to lantern riddles and fan painting.

MAFF 2025 Bingo Game 

Visitors to SCCC and SCH and participate in a bingo game that encourages you to explore various venues within the premises. By completing different MAFF 2025 activities – from performances to workshops and character hunts – visitors can collect stamps and redeem exclusive prizes, such as silkscreen printed tote bags in partnership with STPI and Munchi pancakes. 

No More Blues under the Moon

Head to SCCC’s Roof Garden, relax and unwind under a starry night, enjoy the breathtaking views while listening to acoustic renditions of your favourite Mandopop hits by artiste Jarvis Quek, and also moon and star gazing with the NUS Astronomical Society.

Wan Qing Yuan: A Journey Through History and Heritage – Travelling Exhibition

Check out Wan Qing Yuan travelling exhibition on a Journey Through History and Heritage. Discover the stories of Wan Qing Yuan, that once served as the residence of prominent local figures and witnessed significant historical events. Visitors can also participate in the stamping activity to create their own multi-layered postcard.

Mr Alvin Tan, CEO of SCCC, adds: “Through the festival, we hope to transform our Centre into a festive hub where families and friends can get together and celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in uniquely Singaporean ways, and in doing so, inject more cultural vibrancy into the CBD.” 

Come on down to MAFF 2025 on 4 & 5 October 2025!

MAFF 2025 is open to the public, this exciting and fun festival event offers a wide range of both free and ticketed programmes, ideal for families with children, to know more about Mid-Autumn Festival. For more information on MAFF 2025, the full list of programmes, ticketing and registration details, please visit https://singaporen.sg/festivals/mid-autumn/familyfun 

For eligible Singapore Citizens, you can use the SG Culture Pass credits to offset ticket costs for eligible MAFF 2025 programmes! 

Spread the word, Pass-It-On and Pay-It-Forward, tell your family, relatives, and friends about MAFF 2025 taking place on 4th and 5th October 2025! Come on down, enjoy and have a great Mid-Autumn Festival 2025 Celebrations at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre!

The post Celebrate Mid-Autumn Family FUN 2025 at SCCC and SCO on 4 & 5 October! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.