Little wonder then that several City landmarks including the Chinatown area, Regent Street and Trafalgar Square have become the sites for great pomp and fanfair as London celebrates the Year of the Rat.
The celebrations, which kicked off on February 6 with the annual lighting up of Chinese lanterns at Oxford Circus, are also part of the city’s China in London programme.
So, Londoners can look forward to a two month long cultural extravaganza that will culminate when the Olympic Torch (the Olympics are after all, being held in China in August this year) passes through the city on April 6.
Big celebrations
The China in London season began with a colourful parade of Chinese dragons and performers. The event, put together by the London Chinatown Chinese Association, started at 11am on February 10 and wound its way from the Strand, past Trafalgar and Leicester Squares to Chinatown.
Mike Wei, a communications student from China, said he had come to see the Chinese dance performances at Trafalgar Square, and was looking forward to the fireworks display at Leicester Square.
“In China, we don’t have any parades during the New Year. We generally meet family and friends. Since I’m here for the New Year, I thought coming here would be a nice way to celebrate the occasion,” he added.
Wu, 35, who has been working in London for two years, can to China Town with his girlfriend especially for the New Year celebrations.
He said, “I never imagined that the majority of people who came here to celebrate today are foreigners, not Chinese people. Most of the Londoners and even Europeans at the restaurant we had lunch at wished us a happy New Year. It felt like the whole world was celebrating.”
Adding to what amounted to one great street party were, stalls lining Leicester Square that sold everything from traditional food to clothes and decorations.
In fact unofficial figures indicated that at least half a million people attend the six-hour long event.
China in London 2008
As part of the Chinese government’s efforts to promote the up coming games in Beijing, stars from both the Chinese and British Olympic teams, gathered in London to push the red button that lit up the lanterns, and carried on a three year tradition.
Interestingly enough, this year’s festivities have been the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations outside Asia.
And taking full advantage of the fact that both Beijing and London will be hosting the Olympics – the former this August and the latter in 2012 – the China in London season is also about the handover/takeover relationship between the two cities.
Picture: Collin XU
