Sydney celebrates Chinese New Year

2010-02-23 08:48 BJT

Special Report: 2010 Spring Festival |

 

Performers from Australia and China showcased their skills during the Twilight Parade in Sydney on Sunday. It's one of Australia's biggest celebrations of the year of tiger.

A lion dance troupe opened the parade ceremony. Then a metal Tiger, built from recycled materials, led the parade.

Performers from Australia and China showcased their skills during the Twilight Parade in Sydney on Sunday. It's one of Australia's biggest celebrations of the year of tiger.
Performers from Australia and China showcased their skills during the Twilight
Parade in Sydney on Sunday. It's one of Australia's biggest celebrations of the
year of tiger.

Traditional dancers, martial arts performers, and acrobats walked through Sydney's main street, as spectators cheered on the sidelines.

Michael, Australian in Perth, said, "I think it's great that the culture is so strong in Australia. Sydney's showing that it's got a very vibrant Chinese community and it's a very international city. "

The Twilight Parade, the highlight of the festival, showcased the Tongliang troupe, from Chongqing in western China. The troupe is famous across China as the 10-time winner of the national dragon dance competition.

Tan Qiwei, official of Chongqing Municipal Government, said, "This event will greatly enhance both country's economy and cultural understanding. We want to exhibit more of our culture to the world, so we have to go out and have more cultural exchanges with other countries."

Chinese New Year celebrations last 15 days and Sydney has lined up a series of events for that period.

The Sydney Chinese New Year Festival is in its 14th year and attracts artists from all around China.

Editor: Liu Fang | Source: CCTV.com