Photo via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership
To celebrate Chinese literature, language, and culture, SPH Media's Chinese Media Group (CMG) launched the inaugural SG Chinese FunFest.
Held across Singapore from Apr. 25 to May. 17, the festival aims to integrate Chinese heritage into everyday life, sparking a deeper connection to the language and culture.
The Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Loh Woon Yen, said that Chinese language and culture "should not be confined to classrooms or books".
"Our aim is not merely to preserve the language, but to ensure it remains vibrant and well-loved in modern society."
"We launched the SG Chinese FunFest to bring these elements closer to the community and demonstrate that Chinese can be truly engaging. Looking ahead, we hope the FunFest can become an open platform that unites local cultural resources to drive innovation," she added.
Over the three weeks, the FunFest will feature events such as the SG Chinese FunFest Carnival and a series of guided cultural tours.
Carnival
The SG Chinese FunFest Carnival kicked off on Apr. 25 at Punggol Coast Mall, featuring live stage performances, interactive booths, and the finals of the 13th National Chinese Challenge Finals.
Photos via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership
Photos via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership
Photos via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership
Photos via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership
Photos via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership
Photos via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership
Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung delivered the opening speech in Mandarin before observing among other teams his alma mater, Maris Stella High School, one of this year's secondary school finalists.
Photos via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership
Photos via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership
A bilingual online quiz game developed by Lianhe Zaobao also debuted, putting participants' knowledge of local culture and heritage to the test.
Other activities throughout
Guided tours
Between May. On May 1 and May. 7, the public can join a series of guided cultural tours around Singapore.
These tours include visits to SPH Media Print Centre, Changi Village, Fort Canning, Waterloo Street, and Chinatown Heritage Centre.
Members of the public can sign up and pay for tours on the FunFest website zb.sg/sgcff.
City Reading@SG
From May. 1 to May. 10, 30 sessions of literary talks, book launches and film screenings will take place across various locations as part of the fourth edition of City Reading@SG.
Authors such as Professor Wang Gungwu, Kin Yucheng, Ma Ka Fai, Su Tong, and Wu Xiaole will headline the event.
There will also be a series of wuxia-themed activities, an exhibition on wuxia legends, curated talks, and a live concert featuring wuxia-themed songs by Wysom Wong.
Chinese Pre-University Seminar
On May. 8, the CMG will conduct the inaugural Chinese Pre-University Seminar.
The seminar is catered for those aged 16 to 19 to engage in critical thinking in Chinese and share their perspectives on social issues.
Top photos via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership
