A Taste of Singapore Through Music, Film, Art and Food

The inaugural Singapore Cultural Festival in Shanghai is showcasing its multicultural identity through music, film, food, and digital art.

Organized by the Singapore-based Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, with support from Singapore's Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, the festival runs in Shanghai from September 17 to 26.

Public events in Shanghai will mainly take place on September 19 and September 20.

Rather than presenting Singapore as a modern international country, the festival focuses on the cultures and traditions shaped by generations of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian and other communities living on the island state.

One highlight is the "Harmonic Echoes" concert, featuring Singapore's Siong Leng Musical Association and cross-cultural ensemble Artusik.

Traditional Nanyin music will meet Indian dance, while Malay, Chinese and Western musical elements will also be brought together on stage. An interactive Angklung performance will invite audience members to take part.

Film lovers can catch four Singaporean productions – "We Are Not Strangers," "Ajoomma," "667" and "Bubblegum." The films explore subjects such as family relationships, migration, identity and social change.

Directors and filmmakers including Anthony Chen, He Shuming, Eva Tang, Liao Jiekai and Ang Geck Geck will also join post-screening discussions with audiences.

Food is another window into Singapore's history. Veteran chef Kwek Wen Soo and food culture researcher Yip Wing Seng lead a curated dining experience that explores how southern Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisines shaped Singaporean cuisine.

The digital exhibition "Singapore, A New Perspective," curated by Singapore's National Heritage Board, explores community life, religion, language, music and food, showing how different cultural traditions have contributed to a shared national identity.

The festival also includes cultural talks by educators, filmmakers and musicians who will examine a deceptively simple question: "What is Singapore culture?"

Tickets for the "Harmonic Echoes" concert are available through major ticketing platforms, including Damai, ShowStart and Maoyan, while the four film screenings and filmmaker sharing sessions are free but require reservation.

The festival heads to Beijing, where it will run from September 24 to 26.

Follow 新加坡文化节 on Xiaohongshu (RedNote) for event details and registration.