London’s streets transformed into a crimson-hued carnival this weekend as the city hosted its biggest Chinese New Year celebration outside Asia. With drumbeats echoing through Chinatown and lanterns illuminating Trafalgar Square, over 700,000 revelers welcomed the Year of the Horse – a symbol of strength and progress in Chinese culture. 🎆
The festival featured dragon dances snaking through crowds, kids shouting "Xin Nian Kuai Le!" (Happy New Year!), and food stalls serving steaming dumplings. Deputy Mayor Debbie Weekes-Bernard called it a "vibrant reminder of London’s multicultural heartbeat" during the opening ceremony co-hosted by CGTN’s Li Jianhua.
In a crowd-pleasing moment, Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang announced visa-free travel to China for UK tourists starting this year, sparking cheers. "Pack your curiosity, not your visa!" he declared, urging cultural exchange.
First held in 2002, this 24th edition broke attendance records with afternoon workshops, martial arts demos, and a finale light show. As one organizer told us: "Culture isn’t just watched – it’s shared. Today, London wore red with pride." 🧧
