London welcomes the largest Chinese New Year celebrations outside Asia

Dragon and lion dances, a parade of decorated floats, cultural performances and Chinese food stalls - the heart of London was filled with the rich atmosphere of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Tens of thousands of people gathered in Trafalgar Square and the city's Chinatown to bask in the rejoicing and joy of the Chinese New Year.

Organized by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA), the celebration was the largest of its kind outside of Asia, and began at 10am with a colorful parade featuring handmade floats, dragon dance troupes and displays of traditional Chinese costume.

The Puning Yingge troupe from the Chaoshan region of Guangdong province and the Tonglianglong troupe from Chongqing made their UK debut during the parade. 

The 16 dancers of the Puning Yingge troupe captivated the Londoners with their enchanting folk dance. In this traditional performance, often seen on festive occasions, the dancers wear brightly colored costumes and use various props such as masks, spears and drums.

In the afternoon, a five-hour cultural performance takes centre stage in Trafalgar Square. Artists from China and local British artists presented a dazzling array of cultural performances including Beijing Opera, martial arts, acrobatics, magic and dance. 

Zheng Zeguang, China's Ambassador to the UK, spoke at the event, expressing his gratitude for organizing this grand event to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Loong, and for the artists who had come to bring fantastic Chinese cultural performances, and sending his best wishes to the Chinese community in the UK.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that the Chinese New Year celebrations brought the community together and gave Londoners of Chinese origin a sense of belonging. He expressed his gratitude for the contributions of the Chinese community in various sectors of the UK and called for respect and embrace of Chinese culture.

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Britain's King Charles III and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent congratulatory letters for the event, with the King sending his warmest wishes to all those attending for a most successful and memorable event.

Sunak praised the work of the LCCA in supporting the Chinese business community in London. He said he was grateful for the continued contributions of the British Chinese community and their achievements across the country. 

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