SPRING FESTIVAL 2010

Best time and locations to watch Lion Dances in Tawau during the 2014 Chinese New Year. A vibrant and colorful celebration for every Chinese New Year in Tawau. Lion is a symbol of strength and prosperity, it brings joy and happiness, especially to kids. The following Lion Dances events are open to the public :

1- 斗湖八仙廟 Temple of the Eight Immortals in Tawau
31st January 2014 Friday Morning 9:00AM to 12:00PM
First Day of the New Year. All the 5 Lion Groups in Tawau will come in turn to this temple first for "Blessing Ceremony" before they started to go house-to-house to perform. Each Lion Group has their own "Blessing Ceremony" cession which lasted for 20 minutes before the next group. During the ceremony they perform with their best and in highest spirit because this is their first public perform in the first day of a new year.

After this Temple of Eight Immortals, each group proceed to the next temple Lean Fu Tang Temple a kilometers away.

2- 斗湖蓮湖雷藏寺 Tawau Buddhist Meditation Society- Lean Fu Tang, Sabah
31st January 2014 Friday Morning 9:00AM to 12:00PM
First Day of the New Year. This is the second temple all Lion Groups will pay their visit in the first day of new year.

3- 斗湖籃球會2014年甲午年新春龍麒獅採總青TAWAU BASKETBALL STADIUM
9th February 2014 Sunday 4:00PM to 6:00PM
This annual Lion Dance Performance shown case selected best lions groups in Tawau. Being in a small stadium the audient can watch the performance in a close range.

4- 斗湖普照寺2014 採總青大團拜 The Tawau Buddhist Lodge
16th February 2014 Sunday 4:30PM - 5:30PM
At the basketball court of The Tawau Buddhist Lodge. 4 Lion Groups and a Wu Shu (Kungfu) Group will perform. That day is the last day of a 2 weeks celebration of the new year. Chinese celebrate this last day (15th Day) and called the day 鬧元宵.

After this 15th Day (14th February 2014) the Chinese communities will be back to their normal busy and hectic life until the next new spring arrive.

5- 斗湖2014新春龍麟獅大會串 Lion and Dragon Dance Festival
26th January 2014 Sunday 4:00pm to 9:00pm
This annual Lion Dance Festival held at Tawau Community Center. 11 Lion Groups of Tawau performed in 2014 Festival.

Chinese Temples to visit during Chinese New Year 2014 in Tawau:
The following Chinese Temples are brightly decorated during the Spring Festival and open to the public:

1- 斗湖蓮湖雷藏寺 Tawau Buddhist Meditation Society- Lean Fu Tang, Sabah

2- 斗湖普照寺(佛教居士林) The Tawau Buddhist Lodge

3- 斗湖八仙廟 Temple of the Eight Immortals in Tawau

4- 斗湖德敎會紫辰閣 CHE HSING KHOR MORAL UPLIFTING SOCIETY OF TAWAU

5- 斗湖天后宮 Temple of Heavenly Holy Mother