SINGAPORE, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- River Hongbao 2018, which means Spring has come to the river bank, and consists of eleven-day celebration and festivities to usher in the Chinese Lunar New Year, kicked off here on Wednesday night.

Themed "An Endearing Home for One and All," the event was officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Artists from the Chuzhou Performing Arts Group of China's Anhui Province presented the Chinese traditional Huangmei Opera, one of the most famous traditional operas in China.

They were joined by local performers and performers from China's Taiwan at the opening ceremony and they will be here in the following three days. Local singers and student and social troupes would continue to entertain the visitors until Feb. 24.

In the meantime, visitors would also enjoy games, lantern displays, firework shows as well as "My Home, My New Year" Exhibition, which tells how different generations of the Singaporeans celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year through pictures, videos, food and living essentials.

In marking the Chinese Lunar Year of the Dog, a pets walkathon would be staged to try to raise funds for rehoming the stray dogs.

An integral part of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations here since 1987, River Hongbao was jointly organised by Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, Singapore Press Holdings, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Singapore Tourism Board and People's Association.