Chinatown glows with paper lanterns as festivities begin

About 2,700 lanterns were lit on Saturday along streets of Singapore's Chinatown, kicking off celebrations for the Year of the Monkey in the heritage district.

The ceremony was held at an outdoor venue in the middle of New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street. President Tony Tan Keng Yam lit a peach lantern on stage.

After the official launch, artists from leading local, Chinese and Malaysian troupes performed in a reconstruction of the famed Chinese folktale Journey to the West. Daring displays of acrobatics were accompanied by entertaining musical performances and LED light displays.