Dragon tales around the world
With the approaching of Chinese Spring Festival, various celebrations have kicked off across
the world.
China Town in London has put on a new look with red lanterns and colorful flags lining the whole block.
Deng Zhuting, president of London Chinatown Chinese Association, said it was
the fourth time his group has held grand celebrations for Chinese lunar New
Year. Deng will arrange a parade, which follows a route double the distance of
last year's. Costumed performers will twirl and leap from the Strand through
Charing Cross and Shaftesbury Avenue.
On Sunday, a huge ceremony will be held in Trafalgar Square, with a
traditional Thanksgiving to the Gods ceremony. Dancing lions and dragons are brought to life and the square is filled with the
colorful creatures dancing to the rhythm of the beating drums and gongs.
The association is also organizing the China Town Art Festival, which will
begin tomorrow in the Royal Opera House London. The performances will focus on
Asian dance, drama and music.
Between February 16 and 18, the festival will feature Miao minority dance by
Taiwan folk dance theaters; Peking Opera by London Jing Kun Opera Association; and
Metempsychosis, a drama about Chinese philosophy brought by Chinese, Japanese
and Korean artists in UK.
In South Africa, the biggest gathering of overseas Chinese is taking place in
Johannesburg. Organized by the China embassy and Southern Africa Canton, HK
& Macao Commercial Liaison Association, the embassy officials
will sing and dance on stage.
Kung fu performed by South Africa International Martial Arts
Training Center attracted the locals during the opening ceremony and Chinese
food was popular among locals.
Running until the Chinese Lantern Festival (March 4), the temple fair will climax on the lunar New Year day, with
traditional Chinese Dragon Dancing, Lion Dancing and the performance of Nanjing Xiao Hong Hua Children's Art Troupe from East China's
Jiangsu Province.
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