"The Great Chinese New Year 2019" at CentralWorld. photo courtesy of About PR Co., Ltd.

Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions and fun with your loved ones. Celebratory events being held up and down the country in celebration of the Year of the Pig promise all that and more.

Among the many exciting options on offer, Central Pattana PCL invites the public to its spectacular arts and cultural event titled "The Great Chinese New Year 2019", featuring top talent flown in directly from Tianjin, China. Organised in collaboration with the Chinese Cultural Centre, the event takes place at Eden 1, Eden 2, Central Court, Beacon 2 and Square A areas of CentralWorld Shopping Complex. Celebrations kick off on Jan 29 and run until Chinese New Year on Feb 5.

As well as all the fun activities designed to attract luck, wealth and prosperity, there are also plenty of opportunities to eat and shop. Event highlights include a painting exhibition, a 3m-tall statue of Guanyin the Goddess of Mercy, silver and gold bells blessed by Chinese Buddhist monks and lots more.

On Jan 29, the event takes place at Beacon Zone 2, with "The PanOramix", CentralWorld's massive interactive digital screen, putting on a display of the golden dragon show. Expert on all things Chinese Jittra Kornontakiat will be in attendance. For three decades, she has presided over the opening of the "dragon eye" ceremony. This year she will invite the public to join her for a walk under the auspicious dragon's belly for good fortune, while giving how-to tips to boost personal luck and fortune throughout the Year of the Pig.

On Feb 3, the public will be treated to a magnificent lion dance show by Kun Seng Keng, a world famous dance troupe from Malaysia. Their performance features a dance on plum blossom poles with LED lights. Another not-to-be-missed feature is "The wOrld Of Lantern", with its stunning 10m lantern symbolising wealth and prosperity. Upon entering the event venue, the public will be greeted by performers dressed as angels, spreading happiness from high above amid spectacular lights, colours and sounds.

Be sure to check out the kung fu show by teachers and students from Tianjin Huo Yuanjia School of Culture and Martial Arts in Tianjin. This is the birthplace of the legendary kung fu master Huo Yuanjia, whose brand of kung fu is reflective of the city's perseverance and openness to change.

Other performances include the Lotus Dance, a Chinese zither performance of Flowing Water, Peking Opera The Drunken Beauty and a New-Year Doll Dance.