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Mark Footer

Singapore

Unlike many other places in Asia, Christmas Day is an official public holiday in the city state. Not that the festivities will be limited to December 25.
Returning for a 42nd year is Christmas on a Great Street, the “great street” in question being Orchard Road. Highlights of the event, which runs until January 1, include a Christmas Village at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza that features a 14-metre-tall tree and nightly snowfall shows.
Over at Gardens by the Bay, the second annual Christmas Train Show is chugging around the Flower Dome (until January 4), taking visitors on a festive voyage across the United States, Denmark and Singapore, the locations brought to life with miniature landscapes, heritage shophouses built with recycled material and Lego creations. One of the vehicles used this year is a G-scale SMRT train specially created to mark Singapore’s 60th anniversary. Multi-hued poinsettias and Christmas trees add to the festive cheer.
On December 31, Singaporeans will be treated to day one of the Singland Festival, an indoor New Year celebration at the Marina Bay Sands featuring South Korean star Rain. Fellow singers Henry Lau, Ne-Yo and Terry Lin will feature on January 2 and 3. The new year itself will be ushered in with Marina Bay’s legendary fireworks display.
San Fernando, Philippines

Christmas is big in the Philippines, a predominantly Christian country, and nowhere more so than San Fernando, in Pampanga province.
About 65km north of Metro Manila, San Fernando is known as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, thanks mostly to its Giant Lantern Festival (held yesterday), or Ligligan Parul, wherein huge, intricately designed lanterns (parols) with thousands of dancing lights compete in a light and music spectacular. The winning and other participating lanterns will be exhibited nightly at Robinsons Starmills and other San Fernando venues until early January.
Elsewhere, visitors can expect light displays and Christmas villages at events such as the Nights of Lights: Enchanted Christmas, at The Orchid Gardens Resort, and the Lakeshore Christmas Park in nearby Mexico, Pampanga.
From December 16 to 24, Catholic churches in San Fernando will hold a nine-day series of pre-dawn masses (simbang gabi), which are a major part of the Filipino Christmas tradition. On Christmas Eve, families gather for a feast after the final simbang gabi.
As the new year breaks, Manila erupts into fireworks, the best displays being sent up from the SM Mall of Asia Complex (Pasay City); Bonifacio Global City (Taguig City); Ayala Avenue (Makati City); Okada Manila (Parañaque); and Rizal Park.
Taipei, Taiwan

December 25 is a public holiday in Taiwan, but not as an observance for Christmas; coincidentally, Constitution Day falls on the same date.
Nevertheless, there’s many a ho-ho-ho at New Taipei City Christmasland (until December 28), Taiwan’s largest Christmas celebration, which is this year themed “Circus Carnival” and transforms the Banqiao district into a winter wonderland.
Centred on Citizen Square and Banqiao Station – and a towering Christmas tree – the event is known for a 3D light show projected onto the New Taipei City Hall facade and features themed light zones and carnival rides.
There will be a Christmas flea market on December 20, the Wind Music Carnival on December 25, and the “New Vogue! New Fashion” glamour gala on December 28.
New Year’s Eve in Taipei is dominated by the Taipei 101 countdown, before which, beginning at 7pm, the “Taipei’s Most High New Year City – 2025 Countdown Concert” will take place in the City Hall Plaza.
Taichung, a little further down the west coast of Taiwan, is also known for its seasonal festivities, including a Christmas carnival, markets, the Lishan-Guguan Light Art Festival (until January 11), and a New Year countdown, to be held at Taichung Central Park.


A guide to Christmas celebrations in Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines

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Trip Inspiration

New Taipei City Christmasland, Taiwan’s largest Christmas celebration, runs until December 28 this year in Banqiao district. Photo: Shutterstock

The Christmas Train Show returns to Singapore’s Gardens By The Bay. Photo: Shutterstock

The Giant Lantern Festival is a regular Christmas attraction in San Fernando, in the Philippines. Photo:Getty Images

Banqiao district, in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Photo: Shutterstock

Dumaguete, the Philippine city that blends cultures – and dessert ingredients – with flair

Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete, The Philippines. Photo: Shutterstock

Halo-halo, made with ice shavings, ube ice cream and other sweet ingredients. Photo: Shutterstock

Budbud, sweetened millet wrapped in banana leaves. Photo: Shutterstock

Colourful motor tricycles are a common means of transportation in Dumaguete. Photo: Shutterstock

The Campanario de Dumaguete, the cathedral’s belfry, was built by Spanish friars to serve as a watchtower against marauding pirates Photo: Shutterstock

Silliman University’s Hibbard Hall. Photo: Sarah Gillespie

Students on the streets of Dumaguete during a Silliman University parade in August. Photo: Shutterstock

A platter at Dagsa-an Restaurant. Photo: Sarah Gillespie

A dive boat off Apo Island. Photo: Sarah Gillespie

Oliver Mischo, manager and divemaster at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa, off Apo Island. Photo: Sarah Gillespie

Sunset on the Greek island of Santorini. Photo: Shutterstock

The crowd-free gardens  of Kenroku-en, in Kanazawa, Japan. Photo: Shutterstock

N Seoul Tower looms over the South Korean capital. Photo: Shutterstock

Pattaya, Thailand, has shed its seedy reputation with a slew of more family-friendly openings. Photo: Shutterstock

Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of the Winds, in Jaipur, India. Photo: Shutterstock

Built around 1700, the Anemoscope Windmill Villa boasts panoramic views of the entire Santorini and the Aegean Sea. Photo: Anemoscope Windmill Villa

Insiders’ guide to Indonesia’s Lombok, a worthy ‘new Bali’ with volcanic craters and horse-drawn carts

The beach at Kuta, Lombok. Photo: Shutterstock

Rascals in Kuta, run by Australian hotelier Steven Moloney. Photo: courtesy Rascals Kuta Lombok

There are no cars on the Gili Islands, only horse-drawn carts. Photo: Ian Lloyd Neubauer

Quali, the Asian restaurant in Qunci Villas Resort. Photo: courtesy Qunci Villas Resort

Dishes at Jiang Nan, a Chinese restaurant in Kuta. Photo: @jiangnanlombok/Instagram

Mama Pizza, in Kuta, offers 22 types of sourdough pizza. Photo: courtesy Mama Pizza

A turtle in the waters around the Gili Islands. Photo: courtesy Bask Resort

A circle of underwater statues near Gili Meno. Photo: courtesy Bask Resort

The Grand Targhee Ski Resort in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, US. Photo: Shutterstock

The slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo, in Italy. Photo: Shutterstock

Shiga Kogen, Japan. Photo: Club Wyndham Shirakabaso Shiga-Kogen

 Hotel Tri Studnicky, in Jasná, a Slovakian region popular with younger skiers. Photo: courtesy Hotel Tri Studnicky

Cable cars glide over snowy slopes of Andermatt, Switzerland. Photo: Shutterstock

Slopes near the Grand Targhee Resort, in western Wyoming, the United States. Photo: Shutterstock

Skiers on the slopes of Oukaïmeden, in Morocco. Photo: Shutterstock

Tea-dark waters, ancient landscapes: the quiet majesty of Tasmania’s Port Davey

The Odalisque III in Bathurst Harbour, in Tasmania’s Southwest National Park. Photo: Lean Timms / On Board

Quartzite islands dominate the entrance to Port Davey. Photo: Jimmy Emms

Australian fur seals soak up the rays. Photo: Jimmy Emms

The dark, tannin rich waters of Port Davey. Photo: Jimmy Emms

Early morning in Bramble Cove. Photo: Jimmy Emms

The view from Balmoral Hill looking across Bathurst Channel to Mt Mackenzie. Photo: Jimmy Emms

A large swell rolls into the Breaksea Islands. These swells can travel unimpeded for thousands of miles across the Southern Ocean before they make landfall in Tasmania. Photo: Jimmy Emms

The view of Mount Rugby from Odalisque III’s mooring at Kings Point in Bathurst Harbour. Photo: Jimmy Emms

Photo: courtesy On Board

Photo: @paraviontas/Instagram

Photo: courtesy Roaring 40s Kayaking

PostMag

Travel

Christmas markets, fireworks and giant lanterns are all in store if you’re seeing in the season elsewhere in Asia


Christmas markets, fireworks and giant lanterns are all in store if you’re seeing in the season elsewhere in Asia.


A guide to Christmas celebrations in Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Christmas markets, fireworks and giant lanterns are all in store if you’re seeing in the season elsewhere in Asia

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Singapore

San Fernando, Philippines

Christmas markets, fireworks and giant lanterns are all in store if you’re seeing in the season elsewhere in Asia

Singapore