adwinn

First, sorry for asking the question without doing much research first but we find ourselves in a position where we must decide in the next 24 hrs between being in either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore on Feb.18th.

We just learnt that it co-incides with Chinese New Year and so now that will decide which city to go to(we have been to both sightseeing a few years ago so that is not an issue).

So please we are looking for suggestions and recommendations about New years festivities in both these cities on Feb 17(New Years Eve) and Feb. 18 and which one we would be silly to miss.

Cicerone

The Chinese population in KL is about 10-15%; the Chinese population in Singapore is about 85%, so IMO you are much better off observing celebrations in Singapore, which will include massive light shows on the buildings along Orchard Road. I believe you will miss the fireworks, which most likely are the 19th (that is when there are being held here in Hong Kong), but there should be other events going on, you should check the website for the Singapore Tourist Authority.

Note that virtually every shop and restaurant in town (other than hotel restaurants) will be shut on the 18th but NOT on the 17th which is really just an “extra” public holiday, it’s not officially the first day of the New Year. The first day is the 18th, but as that is a Sunday, many places like Singapore and Hong Kong are giving people an extra public holiday on the 17th. Banks and government offices will be closed; however, it is my understanding that most shops will be open be usual on the 17th and even more so as people will be doing last-minute shopping to get ready for their big family dinners and celebrations starting on the 18th.

lina219

KL will be quieter than usual as not only chinese celebrating, others will want to go back to their hometowns. A lot of shops will be closed early on 17th.
On the plus side, there might be a "Rumah Terbuka" or Open House organised somewehere around KL for the CNY, so you as a tourist are most welcome to join.
OTOH, I think Genting will be suffocatingly full of people.

JamesA

I would say cwertainly Singapore, Lindsey who is a regular here will probably join this and can tell you what is going on, I would make sure you have flights and hotels sorted as 'soon as possible' for Chinese New Year as 'very busy' travel time in the region.

Lindsey

As suggested above, you definitely want to be in Singapore if you want to experience Chinese NY. It's a very festive time of year, with every home and shop decorated. The center of the celebration is Chinatown....it's a complete mob scene, but great fun if you have never seen it. Extremely colorful....lots of holiday decorations and special foods for sale. Dragon dances going on every so often. Each business hires a troupe to perform one sometime during the 2 weeks of the holiday period, to bring luck over the coming year. If you hear drumming, just follow the sound and you will be greeted with a very authentic and unique performance. Be sure to watch to the end to see what the "dragon" does with the symbolic mandarin oranges!

The area gets progressivley crazier each day the week before the holiday and then on the actual day, everything shuts down. It's dead quiet and you could shoot a cannon down the street and not hit anybody. So if you could arrive a day or two earlier, you would be able to experience more of the celebration.
Or you could come later to see the Chingay Parade on Feb 24, which marks the end of the festive season. Groups come from all over Asia to perform in this extravaganza....it's any amazing show.
One thing which is unique to Singapore, at this time of year is "tossing the yu sheng." You can find it in many restaurants. It's a colorful salad of raw fish and crunchy vegetables, which sounds disgusting, but actually tastes very good. Besides being full of flavors and textures, yu sheng is loaded with symbolic meaning. Each raw ingredient signifies luck or prosperity. The most important (and fun) part of eating yu sheng is the mixing together of the ingredients. The ingredients arrive in separate piles on a big platter. To ensure good luck for the coming year, everyone calls out "Lo hei!"-which means "to mix it up" but also sounds like "to prosper more and more"-while they use their chopsticks to toss the ingredients as high in the air as they can. Then you dig in!

Have a great time.....Gong Ci Fa Cai....Happy New Year!