The Teochew Festival 2016 is held at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Level 1 Hall A from December 9 to December 18, 2016.

On a blessed hot, sunny Sunday morning on December 11, I visited the Teochew Festival to soak in the atmosphere of a jam-packed festive crowd at this year’s event, 1.5 times bigger than its inaugural event in 2014.  Occupying more than 45,000 square feet of exhibition space, the festival features over 30 vendors.

I attended the Singapore Teochew Festival 2014 which was previously posted on this blog here .

As a fervent heritage fan, I was attracted by the exhibition of old photographs and other “memory-aids” of the memories of Singapore at the event.

One of the highlights is the cultural gallery, which showcases artefacts of how early Teochew migrants communicated and corresponded with their families in China. Visitors can get a glimpse into the tough lives of early Teochew immigrants in Singapore through a display of Remittance Letters known as “Qiaopi”.

In the early years, these overseas Teochews would send a portion of their income, no matter how meager, along with a letter to family members back home in China.

Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan has specially loaned some of these artefacts from the Museum of Overseas Chinese Remittance in China’s Shantou. The curators also called for the public to send in Remittance Letters of their loved ones on display at this event.

The Teochew Festival 2016 is organised by Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan and there are heritage photos of the Teochew immigrants to Singapore in the old days.

The 10-day festival features other interesting exquisite craftsmanship, Teochew Feast, as well as cultural performances for everyone.

I walked down memory lanes of old Teochew Street with signboards of the shophouses owned by the Teochew businessmen.

Thye Moh Chan is one of the oldest Teochew company which is famous for Teochew confectionary thriving today selling Teochew hot cakes, biscuits and delicacies.

Why was there a big crowd at Thye Moh Chan, I wondered.

The “see hoo” was showing the crowd a “live” demonstration of making the peanut candy!

Since Chinese New Year is just around the corner, it is a good idea to shop for the goodies at the Teochew festival, with good discounts and special offers by the vendors.

In case the visitors did not bring sufficient cash for these high-valued Chinese New Year goodies, no worries … Singapore is a high-tech, modern, cashless society!

The Main Attraction on Stage

Teochew Food Street

Foodies can be treated to an array of Teochew cuisines. There will be a food street featuring 20 vendors comprising homegrown Teochew eateries as well as food vendors from Shantou and Chaozhou, China. A variety of tantalizing Teochew specialties such as Bak Kut Teh, Crystal Dumplings, Fried Kway Teow and Fried Oyster Omelette  are served at the
Festival.

This young Teochew friend tasted the braised duck rice with her hubby and loved it.

The young friendly and sweet girl at the Teochew Crystal Dumpling was a crowd-puller with long queue 🙂

The Teochew Food Street was crowded

The Candy Pohpiah Stall 

The Teochew Festival 2016 is a great cultural event to remember for the family, for Teochew or non-Teochew to share, experience and enjoy!