CNY 2024: The most extravagant festive shopping mall decorations around the Klang Valley

During the Chinese New Year festive season, the colour red, gold embellishments, and all sorts of lanterns do not fall short in the decorations department. As the first day of Chinese New Year inches closer, cities across Malaysia start to bloom in red and gold, ready to welcome the Year of the Dragon. The most common place to spot such lavish festive set-ups is a shopping mall, and when it comes to pulling out all the stops for Chinese New Year, trust these six retail hubs to be the best in the decor game.

The Exchange TRX

Adding silk splendour to its celebrations is The Exchange TRX, the latest newcomer to the Kuala Lumpur mall scene. An intricate revolving silk lantern is the main character in the mall’s celebrations, complete with a giant gold dragon. The space below the dragon is occupied by festive pop-ups and corners perfect for snapping photographs in. As a companion to the gold dragon, an animated dragon also occupies the three-storey flat iron screen in the mall, providing for a grandeur backdrop behind all the festivities. 

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

At Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, you’ll come face-to-face with a pair of golden dragons descending from clouds into the mall’s Centre Court. Bringing with them blessings of wealth, good luck, and joy, the dragons pay homage to the Chinese zodiac and the folklore surrounding it. Skirting the decorations are elements of mythical mountains, adding to the allure of the decor. At the Pavilion Crystal Fountain and Main Entrance, you’ll find Lancôme’s ‘Make Your Legend Bloom’ set-up, complete with spring flowers, dragon motifs, and the Lancôme Dragon Tunnel. As a final touch, synchronised screens at both Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Fahrenheit 88 display the Lancôme Dragon floating through the air. 

Suria KLCC

Suria KLCC is going all out for the Year of the Dragon, transporting shoppers to the vibrant days of 1920s and 1930s Shanghai. The most grandiose attraction is without a doubt the colossal 60-foot 3D dragon installation—named the Dragon of Prosperity—welcoming visitors at The Esplanade KLCC with the iconic Petronas Twin Towers as its backdrop. 

In the mall, shoppers can make their way through a lively old Shanghai street, lined with double-storey shop lots, rickshaws, a vintage car, and projections of classic movie clips. The space is filled with experiences that shoppers can take part in, including a tailor shop showcasing the art of garment design with cheongsams. 

1 Utama

Pulling the nostalgic heartstrings this season is 1 Utama Shopping Centre with its charming Nanyang-styled Merchant Lane and vibrant Old Market Square set-ups. The former is situated at the mall’s Oval section, paying homage to the grand theatres and old-timey shops of yesteryears. The walls are adorned with vintage posters of classic films while the street is lined with plum blossoms, Chinese lanterns and mandarin trees. 

Over at Centre Court, a 30-foot clock tower—a replica from 1937—demands your attention and is surrounded by classic hawker stalls, colourful umbrellas, vintage lamp posts, and more time-appropriate decor. Shoppers can satisfy their cookie cravings with the vendors presenting Chinese delights like dim sum and pastries. 

Sunway Malls

The Sunway Malls group has coordinated a dragon-centric series of decorations spanning five of its outlets: Sunway Pyramid, Sunway Velocity Mall, Sunway Big Box Retail Park, Sunway Putra Mall, and Sunway Carnival Mall. Each shopping centre is adorned with a unique dragon symbolising specific blessings and wishes for the new year. At Sunway Pyramid, you’ll find the Gold Dragon flying in with good fortune, whereas a team of five red dragons bring wealth to Sunway Velocity Mall. The peace-loving water dragon is stationed at Sunway Big Box Retail Park, while the earth dragon—ensuring abundance—calls Sunway Putra Mall home. Lastly, the wood dragon—signifying the spring season and prosperity—can be found at Sunway Carnival Mall. 

MyTown Shopping Centre

MyTown Shopping Centre’s festive decor mimics a bustling marketplace for shoppers to explore while welcoming the Lunar New Year. Though the hallmark of its celebrations may be its upbeat music video, the mall’s marketplace offers an immersive experience to bolster your celebrations. Complete with goods, crafts, and traditional snacks, the decor embodies the true essence of Chinese New Year.

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