Friday, January 23, 2009

Kuala Lumpur's bustling Petaling Street sets the mood for Chinese New Year


Petaling Street, usually bustling with activity, was more crowded than usual as hordes of Chinese New Year shoppers thronged stalls and shops offering all kinds of must-have festive goodies to usher in the New Year.

It was quite sometime I had walked through Petaling Street, so I decided to visit it this Chinese New Year season to do a photoshoot. It was lunch hour time when I walked through Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown. With Chinese New Year just around the corner (which begins on Monday, January 26, 2009), I could feel the cheer and festive spirit of shoppers who are still spending albeit cutting back due to the uncertain economic future.

To those celebrating Chinese New Year, I wish you Xin Nien Kwai Le. Have a wonderful and prosperous Chinese New Year.

Enjoy the photo gallery.



Accessing Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur's famous chinatown, from the main road Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock. The other entrance is via Jalan Sultan.


The hustle and bustle of Petaling Street never fail to attract continuous stream of shoppers and visitors.


Petaling Street was adorned with hanging red lanterns to welcome Chinese NewYear shoppers and visitors.


It's not Chinese New Year without these waxed ducks from China. It's the tradition to have lap ngap or waxed ducks for Chinese New Year. Waxed duck is made by preserving a flattened, deboned duck in salt, spices and fat. They are known as waxed ducks not because they are coated with wax to preserve them. The "wax" in the name refers to the cycles of the moon. They look like they have been waxed.


Chinese sausages or lup cheong, they are normally snapped up fast and you cannot get anymore stocks nearer to Chinese New Year.- For the Cantonese and Hakka, Chinese sausages and waxed ducks dishes are a must for the reunion dinner.


There seems to be big demand for Mandarin oranges. Mandarin oranges are a must have in Chinese New Year. Its Cantonese name 'kum' means gold.


For Chinese New Year, a ready-made cheongsam is the most sensual dress.


Look good this Chinese New Year with dazzling lucky stones to spread some good fortune.


Pineapple shaped lanterns are normally hung at the doorway to attract more wealth and luck.


Chinese lanterns crafted in beautiful red plastic grab attention. Chinese red lanterns are a symbol of happiness and good luck.


This shop is filled with red and gold decorative items, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity.


Red banners with Chinese auspicious words for display in the house to welcome good luck.


Peach-shaped food items made from flour used as docorative items and offerings at the prayer altar of many homes.


In Chinese culture, the peach is a symbol of long life and is regarded as the strongest defense against evil.


The lotus flower symbolizes many auspicious things. It is one of the most auspicious Chinese symbols.


Pussy willow to usher the arrival of prosperity this Chinese New Year.


Colourful artificial flowers such as pink cherry blossom to decorate your home.


A stall that grills and sells 'bak kua' or barbeque pork or chicken meats. The best bak kua is charcoal grilled.


The bak kua or barbequed meat delicacy remains the all-time favourite during Chinese New Year.


Chinese New Year is the peak period for bak kua sales, so be prepared for long queue for your share at Syarikat Kew Brothers shop in Petaing Street. You should see the long queue which snakes its way from the shop to the street.


Another bak kua shop next door to Syarikat Kew Brothers in Petaling Street enjoying brisk sales but the queue is shorter as compared to Kew's.


I look forward for Chinese New Year as I get the opportunity to taste all the lovely traditional cookies like kuih kapit, kuih bangkit, nian gao, peanut cookies and jam tarts.


The entrance to Petaling Street via Jalan Sultan (coming from Klang bus stand)


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