The Meaning and Purpose of Life: Chinese New Year in Kuala Lumpur

Happy Chinese New Year 2020

When I was a child, I loved to celebrate Chinese New Year because it meant holidays, new clothes, ang pows (lucky money), and lots of good food to eat. But since I left school and started my first job as a temporary teacher, Chinese New Year meant a different thing to me. Since I was a part-time law student at that time, I looked forward to Chinese New Year because I needed the holidays to study. After I left the Teachers' Training College and became a permanent teacher, I continued with my law studies (LL.B.), followed by the B. Ed., MA and Ph.D. programs and many years have gone by before I could really celebrate Chinese New Year wholeheartedly without having to worry about my studies. After getting my Ph.D. in October 2017, I finally regained my freedom and now there is nothing to interfere with my Chinese New Year celebration because I don't have to watch New Year movies with a book in my hands anymore.

Every Chinese New Year reminds me of my grandmother and her Chinese New Year Story entitled The Legend of "Monster Nian" which she kept repeating year after year. I am not sure whether this creature really existed but when I was a little girl it seemed so real to me. This is how the story goes:

According to my grandmother, there lived a monster known as "Nian" (which means year) in China a long time ago. This ferocious creature used to come to the village at the end of the lunar year and caused a lot of damage to the property of the villagers. It also ate their livestock and even children should it come across anyone of them. All the villagers retreated to the mountains every New Year Eve because they did not want to be harmed by this creature. One year, as the villagers were preparing to flee to the mountains, a strange old man came to the village. When an old lady told him about Monster Nian, he was not scared at all but insisted to stay in the village to help the villagers get rid of this creature. Although the old lady did not believe him, she let him stay in her house which he decorated with red papers, burning candles and firecrackers. When Monster Nian arrived at the village, it went straight to the brightly lighted house and was terrified by the red papers, candles and the sound of firecrackers. Instead of creating havoc in the village, it was so frightened that it fled from the village never to return again. When the villagers returned the next morning, they were surprised to find that their property and livestock were safe. The old woman hastened to her house and was surprised to find red papers on her windows and doors, candles in her house and firecrackers in the courtyard but the strange old man was nowhere in sight. From that year onward, the villagers did not flee to the mountains again on New Year Eve but welcomed the Lunar New Year by decorating their homes in red, lighting candles, and burning firecrackers. They also dressed in red and visited each other to celebrate their triumph over Monster Nian. That is why the Chinese New Year is also known as "Guo Nian" which can be translated as "surviving Monster Nian's attack"

The story may sound a bit childish or even unbelievable today, but, when I was a little girl, I couldn't help thinking how Monster Nian looked like and was worried that it might come out again some day. Irrespective of whether Monster Nian really existed in ancient China, one thing is for sure and that is the Lunar New Year is a time of new beginnings. The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals (Melody Beattie). What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year (Vern McLellan). All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them (Walt Disney). The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams (Eleanor Roosevelt).

Although I love to take Christmas photos in the shopping malls, I have never taken Chinese New Year photos before. This year, I am going to celebrate Chinese New Year with the kind of feelings that I used to have when I was a child. And of course the beautiful Chinese New Year decorations in the shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur really help to enhance my festive mood. In this article, I would like to share the photos taken in the shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur City Center during this festive season. These decorations are among some of the best in the world comparable to that in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. These photos are accompanied by New Year quotes to motivate and inspire my readers - Happy New Year!

1. Chinese New Year 2020 at Mid Valley Megamall

Let's celebrate Chinese New Year at Mid Valley Megamall to enjoy its spring festival atmosphere and experience the sights and sounds of its LEGO-themed village market. Mid Valley Megamall is located at Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City and is easily accessible via KTM Komuter.

Enormous cherry blossoms at the North Court

Traditional Chinese buildings at the North Court

And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been - Rainer Maria Rilke

Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending - Carl Bard.

Peonies and cherry blossoms - good fortune flowers

Chinese New Year Decorations at the Center Court

Welcome to the LEGO-themed village market at Centre Court

This year, be structured enough for success and achievement and flexible enough for creativity and fun - Taylor Duvall

Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction -Germany Kent

2. Chinese New Year 2020 at The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City

The Gardens Mall is just next to Mid Valley Megamall. The Chinese New Year decorations at the ground floor centered around meticulously folded origami as shown in the photos below.

You are never too old to reinvent yourself - Steve Harvey

The beginning is the most important part of the work - Plato

Meticulously folded crane origami - symbols of longevity and good fortune

An amazing portrait background.

Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions - Dalai Lama

A beautiful background for a family portrait!

3. Chinese New Year 2020 at Berjaya Times Square

"A Spring of Prosperity" mall decorations at Berjaya Times Square. This year, one can see the Lunar Year in full bloom at the Ground Floor Central with its enormous cherry blossoms and red traditional Chinese lanterns. Berjaya Times Square is located at 1, Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur and is easily accessible via monorail and MRT.

A Spring of Prosperity at Berjaya Times Square

Auspicious red traditional Chinese lanterns fill the air

Enormous cherry blossoms

You can get excited about the future. The past won't mind - Hillary DePiano

4. Chinese New 2020 at Sungei Wang Plaza

Let's experience the beauty of plum blossoms and oriental decorations with the theme "Blessings of Prosperity" at Sungei Wang Plaza. Sungei Wang Plaza is located at Jalan Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur. There is an interconnecting bridge that links Sungei Wang Plaza and Bukit Bintang Plaza to Lot 10 just across the road. Once can easily walk to Sungei Wang Plaza from Berjaya Times Square.

Develop an attitude of gratitude this year, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation - Brian Tracy

Cherry blossoms and oriental decorations at Sungei Wang Plaza

The blessings of prosperity

With the new year comes a refueled motivation to improve on the past one - Gretchen Bleiler

The best is yet to come - Frank Sinatra

5. Chinese New Year 2020 at Pavilion

At Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, you will be able to see the biggest rotating "Mickey and Minnie" sculpture this year. Pavilion Shopping Mall is located at 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur. One can easily walk to Pavilion from Sungei Wang Plaza. With the KLCC - Bukit Bintang Walkway (near Pavilion), one can also walk comfortably from Pavilion to Suria KLCC and vice versa.

Disney's Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at the entrance of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

Chinese New Year decorations at the entrance of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

Greeting you at the Center Court are Mickey and Minnie dressed in traditional Chinese attire sitting atop a majestic golden rotating base.

Cherry blossoms at the center court of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

At the Center Court, you will be able to find amazing awesome backgrounds for your portrait photos.

The biggest rotating "Mickey and Minnie" sculpture at the Center Court of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur measuring 20 feet high.

6. Chinese New Year 2020 at Suria KLCC

At Suria KLCC, you can experience a taste of century old Chinese traditions with a modern twist at the center court in this year of the rat. Suria KLCC is located at 241, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Center, 50088 Kuala Lumpur and is easily accessible via LRT.

The grand decorations at the Center Court depicting the ancient majestic octagonal-based Chinese pagoda.

A rat greeting visitors at the entrance of the ground floor

The glorious beauty of Malaysia's tallest Pagoda Replica at the KLCC Esplanade

New beginnings are in order, and you are bound to feel some level of excitement as new chances come your way - Auliq Ice

7. Chinese New Year 2020 at NU Sentral Shopping Center

At NU Sentral Shopping Center, the theme "Yi Fan Feng Shun" which can be translated as everything going on smoothly without obstacles is chosen this year in the hope that the NU Sentral shoppers will have a year without obstacles in 2020. Decorated with traditional iconic Chinese watercraft, auspicious red lanterns, Chinese traditional drums, cherry blossoms and lotus flowers as symbols of good fortune, it is also hoped that the shoppers will sail smoothly towards their destiny with lots of blessings coming their way. NU Sentral is located at No. 201, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. From there, one can easily travel to anywhere via LRT, MRT, ERL, Monorail and KTM Komuter.