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The Chinese New Year celebrations |
Gung Hey Fat Choy! 25,000 join New Year celebration
THE cold snap didn’t deter an estimated 250,000 people from cramming into the streets of Chinatown for the capital’s Chinese New Year celebrations on Sunday.
Snow flurries added to the festive atmosphere as crowds watched international Chinese artists perform in Trafalgar Square and saw a fearsome procession of lions dance through Chinatown to mark the beginning of the Year of the Ox. There were breathtaking martial arts demonstrations, food stalls to make the mouth water and a show-stopping fireworks display on Sunday afternoon.
While this year’s event was scaled down from 2008, organisers tried to bring back a community feel to celebrations, with more of the action returning to Chinatown.
Last year many small businesses and restaurant owners had complained that trade was pushed away from Chinatown by grandstand events across the West End.
Leslie Ng, president of the London Chinatown Chinese Association, which organises the celebrations said: “It was wonderful that people from all communities braved the cold weather to enjoy London’s Chinese New Year celebrations. We have seen in the Year of the Ox in spectacular style. Gung Hey Fat Choy!”
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