China News Service, London, February 13 (Peng Xinyi) Recently, the 2024 Year of the Dragon in London, UK New Year Celebration was held in Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and other landmarks in central London, attracting more than 700,000 overseas Chinese in the UK. , local British people and tourists from various countries participated.

　　On the morning of February 11, dragon and lion dances and floats paraded through central London, starting from Channing Court Cross Road, passing through Shasbury Avenue, and ending at Piccadilly Circus near Chinatown.

Pictured is the performance scene. Photo by Peng Xinyi

　　Before the event started at 10 a.m., it was still raining lightly in London. Admiring British people had already gathered on both sides of the road, stretching along the nearly one kilometer parade route.

　　British Chinese community teams such as the British Zhongzheng Dragon and Lion Troupe and the British Medway Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe, as well as Chinese performance teams such as the Guangdong Puningying Song and Dance Troupe, interacted with the people along the way, attracting cheers. The shower-like drumbeats and flying dances set off the festive and joyful New Year atmosphere.

　　From noon to evening that day, the "Cultural China·Spring Together" New Year celebration was held in Trafalgar Square. After the guests delivered New Year's speeches and danced the lion's eye, the nearly five-hour cultural performance began.

　　In front of the people who filled the square, the plum blossom pile lion dance by the Chen brothers from Guangdong and the dragon and lion dance from Panzhihua, Sichuan took the stage one after another, sending New Year blessings of "Dragon and Horse Spirit" and "Gong Xi Fa Cai".

Pictured is the performance scene. Photo by Peng Xinyi

　　Then there were performances by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Guangdong Puningying Song and Dance, Four Seas Together Spring Art Troupe, "Dragon Dance New Year" Happy Spring Festival Art Troupe, Lang Lang International Foundation young musicians, "Cultural China" Water Cube Cup winners and local British artists. Participants presented Peking Opera, martial arts, acrobatics, ancient magic, folk music, dance and other theatrical performances. After nightfall, the Tongliang Dragon from Chongqing also made its final appearance.

　　At the same time of the day, there were various food and New Year stalls around Trafalgar Square and the main streets of Chinatown, as well as world intangible cultural heritage experiences, parent-child games and other activities.

　　Zheng Zeguang, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, delivered a speech in Chinese and English at the performance. He thanked the London Chinatown Chamber of Commerce for organizing this grand event to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon Spring Festival, and thanked the artists who came from Beijing, Guangdong and other places to bring wonderful Chinese literature and art. program, and extended New Year greetings to the vast number of overseas Chinese in the UK, Chinese students studying abroad, personnel from Chinese-funded institutions and friends from all walks of life.

　　Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, also said: “With the arrival of the New Year celebrations in the Year of the Dragon, the streets of Trafalgar Square and Chinatown will become vibrant. I would like to express my gratitude to the Chinese community in London and thank them for being our beloved city. An integral part of the city, driving business, contributing to arts and culture and helping London become a better city for everyone.”

　　British King Charles III and British Prime Minister Sunak also sent congratulatory messages for the event.

　　This Chinese New Year celebration is hosted by the London Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. Since 2002, the London Chinatown Chamber of Commerce has held annual celebrations in Trafalgar Square near Chinatown. After years of development, this event has become the largest Spring Festival celebration outside Asia. (over)