London marks Chinese New Year with biggest party outside Asia

Children join a parade to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year in central London, Feb 14, 2016. [Photo by Song Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

Londoners enjoyed a massive Chinese New Year party on Sunday, as the city center filled with music, acrobatics, martial arts and Chinese traditional craft stalls.

The celebration kicked off at 10am with a grand parade through the West End, featuring dancing lions and dragons, colorful floats and various Chinese cultural demonstrations. The event, attended by some 700,000 people, is the largest celebration outside Asia for Chinese New Year, which fell on Feb 8 this year.

As 2016 is the Year of the Monkey, the parade was presided over by the Monkey King and Chinese God of Wealth. The spectacle, starting from Trafalgar Square and ending in the heart of Chinatown, drew thousands of people lining the route.

Celebrations at the square continued with firecrackers at midday, which were followed by a flying lion and dragon dance to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. 

Chinese lion dancers perform during an event to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year in central London, Feb 14, 2016. [Photo by Song Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

A variety show was staged in the square, featuring music, dances, martial arts and traditional opera from Southwest China's Sichuan region. The celebration ended with fireworks at 6pm.

Janette, who comes from Peru and is now a volunteer in London, said she often goes to Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatowns in both her country and London.

"The celebration in London is lovely. I love the dragon dance and parade," she said.

"The celebration has become widely known by people in London, "said Rana Carlit, a local resident. "There has been a lot of publicity for the event this year by radio, TV, newspaper and underground ads."

Monkey King and the God of Wealth join the parade to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year in central London, Feb 14, 2016. [Photo by Song Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

Besides the main celebration in Trafalgar Square, there were also activities at surrounding locations including Shaftesbury Avenue, Leicester Square, Chinatown and Charing Cross Road.

Chu Ting Tang, president of the London Chinatown Chinese Association, organizer of the celebration, said that celebration has become part of social life in London.

He noted that besides more and more landmarks in London becoming celebration sites, many mainstream organizations have also joined Chinese people in marking the occasion.

Children join a parade to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year in central London, Feb 14, 2016. [Photo by Song Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

"The Spring Festival in London is a wonderful harmony of the east meeting the west," said Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to UK.

Liu wished that the "Golden Era" of China-UK relations bring more splendid chapters, the world enjoys peace and harmony and everyone lives in good health and happiness.