lunar new year at peninsula hot springs
Saturday 8 February | Complimentary with bathing
join us on 8 February at Peninsula Hot Springs as we celebrate Lunar New Year
We will be hosting a series of events which promote and rejoice the festivities as well as celebrate our connection to Chinese and Asian cultures in our offering of globally inspired bathing traditions.
Join us for Qigong moving meditation, Chinese Medicine Ear Seedlings and Cupping experiences, Lion Dance, a special Lunar New Year Gala performance and film launch by Mindy Meng Wang in collaboration with David Hirschfelder.
The experiences offered as part of our Lunar New Year program are complimentary with your bathing experience.
the daylong program | 11am to 4pm
Traditional Chinese Medicine Ear Seedlings and Cupping Experiences - RMIT Teachers and Students Fire and Ice Dome and picnic area | 11am to 3pm
Ear Seedling and Cupping are therapeutic practices rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, designed to promote healing and balance.
Ear Seedling involves placing seeds on specific points of the outer ear that correspond to various parts of the body, said to offer benefits such as stress relief, improved sleep, pain management, and hormonal balance.
Cupping uses suction to stimulate blood flow and enhance circulation. During the experience, cups are placed on the skin, gently pulling the tissue to support your body’s natural healing processes.
Qigong Amphitheatre Stage | 3pm to 4pm
Qigong, pronounced as ‘chi gong’ is a type of moving mediation predominant in the way of Chinese Medicine. As part of our program, be guided by an expert facilitator and combine traditional geothermal bathing with this ancient practice to be part of an experience to bring calm and awareness to our modern world.
the twilight program | 6:30pm to 9:30pm
Lion Dance Bath House Amphitheatre | 6:30pm to 7:15pm
The Lion Dance is one of the most significant traditions during Lunar New Year, symbolising power, wisdom and superiority. It is performed to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year, and is a way to create a joyous and festive atmosphere amongst the festivities. As you bathe in our geothermal springs, see if you can see the Lion Blessing taking place across our Amphitheatre space.
Lunar New Year Gala Performance: Mindy Meng Wang Amphitheatre Stage | 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Mindy Meng Wang will present an intimate and evocative solo performance, blending her voice, looping techniques, effects, and the guzheng—a 2,500-year-old Chinese harp. Her original compositions are deeply inspired by nature, weaving rich, meditative soundscapes that evoke profound reflections on the passage of time, memory, and the stories of life. This set offers a serene yet emotional journey through music.
Mindy Meng Wang & David Hirschfelder Live Film Launch Amphitheatre Stage | 8:40pm to 9:30pm
We will be screening the world premiere of the concert film by Mindy Meng Wang and renowned Australian composer David Hirschfelder.
The concert draws its inspiration from the poetry of Tsangyang Gyatso, the unconventional 17th-century Tibetan monk recognized as the sixth Dalai Lama. Tsangyang Gyatso faced a profound inner conflict between his role as a spiritual leader and his yearning for love and freedom. His poetry, brimming with this tension and timeless human emotion, has resonated across generations. Mindy and David channel the essence of his words into their music, creating a deeply moving and contemplative experience.
The film combines footage of Mindy and David’s live performance, poetic recitations, and interactive visuals meticulously crafted to harmonize with the music and poetry. This unique cinematic experience amplifies the emotional and artistic layers of the concert, creating an immersive and thought-provoking journey.
a special celebration of traditional cuisine
Across the course of the Lunar New Year celebrations, we will have a restaurant and café offering which reflects important meaning in Chinese culture.
In our Amphitheatre Café, enjoy Beef Tataki and Poke Bowls, a dish offering a medly of fresh ingredients that come together with Asian inspired flavours. Also on offer will be prawn and ginger dumplings - a dish associated with currency said to bring good luck for the year ahead.
Our Bath House Café will be serving special almond cookies in celebration. Round and golden when baked, almond cookies are said to resemble coins and symbolise good fortune and prosperity for the diner.
