The Dumpling Festival which is held annually is enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike. This significant national festival is related to an interesting ancient Chinese legend. Qu Yuan the patriotic poet and statesman is believed to have thrown himself to the Milo River to show his strong disapproval of injustice and corruption caused to the fishermen. It is also believed that the local fishing community tried hard to save his body from the demons. As a result they began to throw rice in to the river as offerings and started to beat drums and gongs.

So, with time this became an annual event. The Chinese community living in Singapore celebrates the Dumpling Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month each year. They celebrate this by organising colourful dragon boat races and consume hundreds and hundreds of dumplings. They relate the dragon races to the search for the body of their beloved Qu Yuan.
Zongzi or dumplings are small rice packets that are enclosed in bamboo leaves. To prevent the dragons from eating the rice packets, the people tied them with bright colour silk threads.

Since recent times many new items have added more colour and excitement to the Dumpling Festival. These new items include lion dances, Chinese opera and orchestra shows and karaoke evenings. The highlight of the festival happens when the people of the parade gather at the Albert Mall.

This vibrant and fun filled festival can be enjoyed by staying at a nearby Singapore luxury hotel such as Raffles Hotel, Singapore which is renowned for offering world class service along with an extensive range of contemporary amenities.

Singapore is one of the sought after destinations for tourists from all parts of the globe. Travelers can explore a lot many things in this beautiful island country. Every year, tourists from all over the world visit Singapore to see and cherish the various tourist places in Singapore. Whether it is the high-rise buildings, wonderful shopping malls, beaches, gardens, or parks, tourist attractions in Singapore will definitely give you a thrilling experience. There are several tourist attraction places in Singapore which include:

The Orchard Road: The Orchard Road, simply called as Orchard, is the city’s entertainment and retail hub and is one of the popular tourist attractions in Singapore. The entire area is full of shopping malls and shops. During Christmas time, the beautiful Christmas decorations attract the tourists. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve: This is a spectacular natural reserve bordered by a rainforest. Spread over an area of about 164 hectares, the place is the address of various types of plants. Bukit Timah Hill, regarded as Singapore’s highest point, is the main attraction here. While roaming in this green nature reserve, the sweet melody of birds and voices of pangolins or monkeys will definitely accompany you.

Jurong Bird Park: It is a popular aviary in Singapore. It is the address of more than 8,000 birds of approximately 600 different species. The beautiful landscape of the park blended with the world’s tallest man-made waterfall will mesmerize your senses.

Sentosa: One of the popular tourist attractions in Singapore, this spectacular island is situated off the country’s southern coast. The island is the address of some of Singapore’s best beaches. During your visit to Sentosa, do not forget to visit the Underwater World to explore the captivating marine life which promises endless enjoyment to the tourists. The Underwater World in Sentosa is considered as one of the most adventurous and thrilling tropical oceanariums in Asia featuring more than 2,500 marine species. A travellator will guide you through the 80 meter acrylic tunnel and you will feel as if you have stepped deep inside the ocean. Dreadful sharks, stingrays, sea dragons, turtles, moray eels, lovely pink dolphins, a variety of fishes, and several other creatures will swim just next to you and over you.

Night Safari: The Night Safari in Singapore gives you a chance to get a close view of the nocturnal animals, which is usually a rare sight. This is possible by means of special “moonlight” lights illumination. Tourists can also walk along the illuminated tracks amidst the jungle into the territory of sloths, rhinoceros and tigers.