Largest golden dragon sculpture unveiled
KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is welcoming the Lunar New Year with a giant golden dragon sculpture.
Standing at 12 feet in height and 25 feet in length, the hand-crafted model made of polystyrene is the crown jewel of KLIA’s Chinese New Year campaign themed ‘Celestial Splendour at Terminal 1’.
The sculpture, painted in dazzling gold, has been entered into the Malaysia Book of Records as the Biggest Golden Dragon sculpture in Malaysia.
The dragon which symbolises power, tradition and imperial grandeur, is also accompanied by a majestic dragon throne centrepiece, taking passengers back to the glorious days of ‘Old China’.
The unveiling was officiated by Malaysia Airports senior general manager and commercial services Hani Ezra with Malaysia Book of Records’ chief marketing officer Jwan Heah Yeow Hooi present to hand certification of the recognition.
“Malaysia is a tapestry of culture, religion and tradition which signifies our nations rich diversity.
“As we usher in the Lunar New Year, we are reminded that despite our diverse cultures and beliefs, this celebration becomes a shared experience crossing borders to bring joy and a sense of renewal to everyone,” Hani said.
KLIA’s Celestial Splendour will welcome visitors with an array of cultural performances running until Feb 24.
These performances include acrobatic lion dance, lantern workshops and many more.
Meanwhile, shopping malls around the Klang Valley have gone all out to usher in a memorable Chinese New Year.
From gigantic dragon sculptures to blossoming gardens and heritage towns, shopping malls are ready for the festive season.
Pulling out all the stops when it comes to festive decor, some malls are going the extra mile with a packed itinerary of Chinese New Year related activities as well as performances such as the Lion Dance as well as Dragon Dance.
With its prime location under the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, Suria KLCC is one of the most well-known shopping destinations in the Klang Valley.
In conjunction with Chinese New Year this year, the mall is bringing back the heydays of old Shanghai.
The Centre Court has been transformed into a lively old Shanghai street from the 1920s to 1930s, complete with traditional double-storey shop lots — offering engaging experiences to visitors.
From a tailor shop showcasing the art of tailoring traditional apparel such as the cheongsam as well as a restaurant showcasing traditional reunion dinner dishes, the setup also features rickshaws, a vintage car as well as an old cinema which will be playing clips from famous classic Chinese films.
The main attraction not to be missed however is located at The Esplanade area where a 60-foot 3D dragon sculpture, christened the Prosperity Dragon, stands in all its glory with the iconic backdrop of the twin towers.
Suria KLCC Public Relations and Communicatio manager Sherina Khairi told Malay Mail that the positioning of the Prosperity Dragon was meant to represent soaring towards success and reaching new heights.
Sherina, who with her team did extensive research on this year’s decor through visitors’ surveys, said that the installation took about a month to complete and was done immediately after Christmas and New Year celebrations wrapped up. “I think it has become a tradition for local malls to indulge in festive decorations. We celebrate all our different festivities here in Malaysia.
“And for Suria KLCC, we are not just a shopping destination but also an aspiration destination where we want to attract not just local visitors but also tourists to identify with the many facets of our cultures.
“It’s a shame if we do not showcase it and the best way to do that is through these immersive decorations.”
Meanwhile, premier shopping mall Pavilion KL located in the bustling streets of Bukit Bintang went with ‘Dragon Dynasty’ as their main theme this year with not just one, but five dragons placed around their mall.
Two golden dragon figures are placed at the Centre Court guarding a precious oriental pearl, while another three embroidered dragons can be seen at the Pavilion Crystal Fountain.
Pavilion KL director of Marketing Kung Suan Ai said that they aim to embrace the spirit of new beginnings by extending blessings of good luck, happiness, hope and togetherness to their shoppers this year. She said Pavilion KL, which recorded around 49 million visitors in the last year alone, will continue to distinguish itself amongst other malls through its innovative decorations.