SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Sands China presented Chinese New Year themed festival activities at the former Iec Long Firecracker Factory and Taipa Houses Museum

  • Sands China launched the “Community Revitalization Series – Spring Festival in Full Bloom” during Chinese New Year.
  • Activities centered around the former Iec Long Firecracker Factory and the Taipa Houses Museum.

Sands China celebrated the Chinese New Year of the Dragon by hosting a series of themed festive activities throughout February at the former Iec Long Firecracker Factory and the Taipa Houses Museum, all under the theme of “Spring Festival in Full Bloom”. The series of Chinese New Year celebrations included an interactive A.I. photobooth, family workshops, Chinese New Year-themed and romantic installations, live music performances and more, all integrating the diverse characteristics and aspects of the area. The activities were open to the public and aimed at sharing the festive joy of the Spring Festival with residents and tourists.

Activities at the former Iec Long Firecracker Factory included the “Spring Festival-themed holographic AI photobooth”, the “GONG Hei Fat Choi interactive installation”, “Spring Festival Family Workshops” and live music performances, among others.

Featuring a design of an auspicious dragon, the holographic AI photobooth offered an exclusive selection of Spring Festival photo templates where visitors could take New Year photos with special effects generated by AI technology. At the hands-on installation, visitors could ring the “lucky gongs” for good fortune and write down New Year wishes to hang on the Wall of Wishes to share their hopes and blessings for the new year.

Throughout the month, 12 engaging New Year parent-child workshops featured fai chun ink rubbing, Chinese weaving, paper craft and lantern making, allowing participants to experience the charm of traditional culture in a fun way, all for free. Sands China also invited members from local NGOs, the Macao Autism Association and the Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Services Coordination Office, to experience the workshop contents with Sands Cares Ambassadors, deepening their understanding of traditional festivals in an entertaining way and promoting parent-child interaction for harmonious family building. Coinciding with the Lantern Festival, several concerts were performed, sharing romance and joy with visitors.

Activities at Taipa Houses Museum included the interactive game “Light up the heart”, “Larger-than-life bouquet of roses” and live jazz performances. The interactive “Light up the heart” game was designed for pairs of people, encouraging couples, parents and children, families and friends to play together. By manually pressing a device, calories were converted into power until the entire heart-shaped pattern lit up.

The rose installation, featuring a giant bouquet made from over a hundred fibreglass roses of various sizes, proved to be a great spot for photos. Sands China revealed that this installation would remain until 14 March for White Day, allowing visitors to continue sharing romantic joy.

Additionally, the Taipa Houses Museum hosted a live jazz performance, bringing a strong Portuguese romantic flair to the audience for Valentine’s Day.

Dr Wilfred Wong, Executive Vice Chairman of Sands China Ltd, said, “As Sands China supports the city’s revitalization work, we uphold the business philosophy of supporting the growth of local small, medium and micro suppliers. From the development of large-scale Grand Prix themed events to the current Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day themed installations, all aspects are supported by the services of local SMEs, young entrepreneurs, and cultural and creative companies.

“For the first time, we are launching simultaneous revitalization projects at the former Iec Long Firecracker Factory and the Taipa Houses Museum, creating opportunities for parents and children to experience traditional Chinese culture in a fun way, while attracting couples to visit, thereby connecting these two outdoor spaces and generating a synergistic effect with the old Taipa Village area, adding charm to the community and invigorating the local economy.

“Looking ahead, Sands China will continue to implement revitalization projects in the district, following the principle of ‘restructuring, activating, integrating the old with the new,’ and by supporting the ‘culture+’ and ‘tourism+’ integration development model led by the government, to unleash the diverse charm of Macau.”

Leong Wai Man, president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macau SAR Government, said, “Since its phased opening to the public, the former site of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory has hosted numerous events, attracting and winning the participation and favor of a wide range of residents and tourists. This once again confirms that as long as Macau’s rich historical districts and cultural heritage are revitalized and well-utilized, they will have vibrant vitality, not only bringing a fascinating cultural journey to the general public but also adding unique charm to the city.

“On behalf of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, I would like to extend warm congratulations on the successful planning and launch of the event, and express heartfelt thanks to our partner, Sands China.”

The former Iec Long Firecracker Factory and Taipa Houses Museum are part of Sands China’s revitalization efforts in cooperation with the Macau government. The project includes the revitalization and optimization of the areas around the Iec Long Firecracker Factory, the Taipa Houses Museum, Pátio da Eterna Felicidade, and Rua das Estalagens. In 2023, Sands China announced plans to develop themed games at the Iec Long Firecracker Factory, which will introduce the site’s historical story with the goal of enriching the cultural and tourism content of the pedestrian route connecting the Taipa Houses Museum to the Iec Long Firecracker Factory. It also planned to launch the “Love in the Taipa Houses Museum” program at the Taipa Houses Museum, transforming it into a Chinese-Portuguese wedding photography destination in Macau.

You may also like...