Celebrate Chinese New Year 2009
Photograph (c) James O Jenkins
Celebrate Chinese New Year in Central London on 1st February 2009! This year, visitors to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and London Chinatown will be able to see in the Year of Ox with a spectacular programme of Chinese arts and entertainment – as well as food, firecrackers and fireworks.
In Trafalgar Square – after an official opening ceremony at 12 noon – there will be performances by artists from the Qinghai and Kunming provinces in China, as well as Chinese dragons, lions and Chinese acrobatics.
Meanwhile, in a specially decorated Chinatown there will be cultural stalls, food and lion dance displays. Also, for the first time, Shaftesbury Avenue will become ‘Hong Kong in London’ with a stage featuring performances by local Chinese artists. There will also be a guest appearance by Haibao – the official Shanghai 2010 mascot throughout the day.
And in Leicester Square there will be a colourful fireworks display to close the celebrations.
London Chinatown Chinese Association organises the capital’s Chinese New Year celebrations with support from the Greater London Authority, Westminster City Council, Chinese Embassy, Cathay Pacific, Tsingtao Beer, Bank of China, Bank of East Asia, Shaftesbury plc, Metropolitan Police and others.
Mr Leslie Ng, President of the London Chinatown Chinese Association, said: ‘London’s Chinese New Year celebrations allow people from all communities to come together to celebrate, and experience Chinese culture. It’s also a chance to see what Chinatown has on offer – not just during Chinese New Year, but all year round. Gong Hey Fat Choi!’
Photograph (c) James O Jenkins
For more information visit www.chinatownchinese.co.uk or www.visitlondon.com/chinainlondon
People planning to attend London’s Chinese New Year celebrations are encouraged to plan their journey and use public transport. For more information and advice about planning your journey, visit www.tfl.gov.uk or call the London Travel Information Centre on 020 7222 1234.
Tags: Chinese New Year, Westminster