Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur celebrated Chinese New Year 2026 with lion dances, a 48-ft Yee Sang and more.
SHANGRI-LA Kuala Lumpur marked the arrival of the Year of the Horse in style, hosting a grand Chinese New Year celebration that drew together over 200 guests at its iconic Main Lobby Porte Cochère in a spirited tribute to culture, tradition and community.
The festivities opened with a thunderous 24-drum performance by a troupe from Universiti Malaya, whose precisely synchronised beats filled the grand entrance with an unmistakably festive energy. The powerful rhythms immediately set an auspicious mood for the afternoon ahead.
What followed was an equally captivating lion dance showcase delivered by the award-winning Persatuan Tarian Naga dan Singa Callifo Nansheng. The Southern lion performance — characterised by athletic choreography and nimble footwork — drew enthusiastic applause from the assembled crowd, as the troupe embodied the traditional symbols of prosperity, strength and good fortune associated with the new year.
The centrepiece of the afternoon, however, was undoubtedly the Yee Sang tossing ceremony. More than 70 distinguished invited guests joined the hotel’s management team in gathering around an extraordinary 48-foot-long Yee Sang — a showpiece masterfully assembled by Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur’s culinary team. Adorned with auspicious Chinese characters and a galloping horse motif representing vitality and forward momentum, the elaborate creation served as both a cultural statement and a remarkable culinary feat.
Speaking at the ceremony, the hotel’s General Manager reflected on the significance of the occasion, noting that the Year of the Galloping Horse embodies energy and the drive to push forward — values the hotel hopes to channel in pioneering new benchmarks and crafting meaningful experiences for its guests throughout the year.
The programme wound down on a graceful note, as the delicate strains of a guzheng performance drifted through the lobby, offering guests a moment of refined cultural immersion. Adding a hands-on dimension to the celebrations, Malaysian paper-cutting artist Eten Teo guided guests through the centuries-old folk art of Chinese paper cutting — a tradition historically used to decorate homes with symbols of joy and abundance. Each intricately crafted piece served as a personal memento of the day’s festivities.
The event reinforced Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur’s ongoing commitment to preserving and celebrating Chinese cultural heritage through thoughtfully curated experiences rooted in its hallmark Asian hospitality.
For those wishing to extend the celebratory spirit, Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur’s Chinese New Year offerings at Shang Palace and Lemon Garden remain available through 3 March 2026. Further details on dining packages and festive promotions can be found at www.shangri-la.com/en/kualalumpur/shangrila/offers.
The Sun Malaysia
