2014 London Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year takes place this year on Friday January 31, but for London the main Chinese New Year celebrations, marking the Year of the Horse, take place on Sunday February 2.

As usual, London’s Chinese New Year celebrations are set to be the biggest outside of Asia and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to descend on the West End to mark the occasion.

Events begin at 10am, with a colourful New Year’s Parade that passes along Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue before reaching Chinatown. An official opening ceremony at midday in Trafalgar Square will then be followed by various performances. Expect to see acrobatics, traditional dance, theatre and song recitals by artists visiting from China especially for the occasion. A second stage on Shaftesbury Avenue will provide a platform to local performers and up-and-coming acts.

Beyond the main stages there’ll be plenty to see and do throughout Chinatown, with craft stalls and food stands in operation during the day and the area’s numerous restaurants set to be especially lively. The Chinese Community Centre will host a more intimate festival in Horse & Dophin Yard, featuring displays of traditional Chinese arts including calligraphy, drumming and dancing, and martial arts. All activities forming part of the official celebrations are free to attend and, although the programme concludes at 6pm, there should events taking place in Chinatown until later that evening.

Happy Chinese New Year 2014!

Article from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/