Malang, en.SERU.co.id – On the peak day of The Great Lunar Harmony celebration for Chinese New Year 2577 Kongzili, Malang Town Square (Matos) was overwhelmed by around 50,000 visitors throughout Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The series of events at Matos kicked off on Friday, February 13, 2026, followed by the Kampoeng China Festival from Saturday to Tuesday (February 14-17, 2026), culminating in the spectacular Barongsai Show on Tuesday.
Matos’ Marketing Communications Manager, Sasmita Rahayu, explained that this year’s Chinese New Year festivities were themed around cross-cultural togetherness and family entertainment.
The lineup began on Friday, February 13, 2026, with educational activities involving local schools. It then continued from Saturday to Tuesday (February 14-17, 2026) with the Kampoeng Pecinan/China Festival on the upper floors of Matos.
“At the Kampoeng Pecinan Festival, we featured a variety of activities, including an oriental food bazaar with both authentic and modern options. There were also diverse artistic performances such as K-Pop, dance, fashion shows, and singing competitions,” Sasmita enthusiastically shared.
Additional highlights included coloring contests, singing competitions, and performances by mothers playing angklung instruments while performing Chinese songs. The sense of community was particularly strong, especially given the proximity to the Ramadan season.
The Barongsai Shows, held from February 15-17, 2026, served as a major draw for visitors to Matos. These included the Leang-leong Show, Wushu Show, Oriental Dance by UM (Universitas Negeri Malang), Cross Culture by Athena, Oriental Fashion Show by Color Mode, and more.
The climax was divided into two sessions on the peak day:
- Session 1: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM WIB at Matos Sky Garden
- Session 2: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM WIB at Matos Hall Lower Ground
These featured special performances like Barongsai, Leang-leong, Wushu, Chongsam Parade, and fashion shows.
“The highlight included a range of acts, from the Raja Ratu fashion show and Mandarin songs performed by students from Universitas Negeri Malang, to traditional Chinese dances, wushu, barongsai, and a closing fashion show that extended into the evening,” she added.
According to observations by SERU.co.id, approximately 50,000 visitors flooded the peak Chinese New Year event at Matos. Nearly all tenants experienced a positive boost, with some even handing out angpao (red envelopes) to shoppers at their booths.
“It was truly extraordinary—even walking around was challenging due to the massive crowds. We estimate over 50,000 visitors, as many reported difficulties finding parking at Matos; the spaces just weren’t enough,” she concluded. (rhd)
