Monday 19 February 2018

Chinese New Year


It was Chinese New Year this last week and on Sunday there were huge celebrations in London. I was there early before the crowds started to gather. The event is the biggest Chinese New Year celebration outside Asia with its martial art displays, music shows and cultural activities being held across the West End.
The dragons were getting ready for the big parade.













The open top buses were all ready for their guests.
The stage was set up in Trafalgar Square

















Lanterns and stalls surrounded the Square.






The streets in Chinatown were all decorated with red lanterns.








By 10am the streets were crowded and the parade began.

Chinese New Year parade
This is a photo from the BBC website giving you some idea of the crowds.


Fortunately, being there early,  I had a good view of the parade.











































































After the parade I had a look at Trafalgar Square but decided against fighting my way through the crowds.


I wonder if this dragon had decided to find another way home.

25 comments:

  1. I never think of London as having a large Chinese heritage population, so I am surprised it is the largest celebration outside of Asian cities. There is plenty of colour and if like here, plenty of noise.

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  2. Our Chinese friends bring so much fun, vibrancy and colour to the UK. Not to mention the food!

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  3. Happy New Year!! Fun, colorful photos & narratives

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  4. I love the Lunar New Year - it's HUGE in Sydney. Off to play Mah Jong in the city tonight....

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  5. I almost forgot about that until my mum reminded me. I've been too busy celebrating other holidays and getting ready for St. Paddy's. That looks like a celebration you'd want to be part of, what fun. Nice job on the photos and I love all the dragon action shots.

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  6. What fun! I love all the colorful dragons.

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  7. You got some great photos showing the size and scope of the celebration. Happy New Year! :-)

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  8. Wow it looks busy but you got some great shots :)

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  9. Oh, how neat was that! I've never seen a Chinese New Year parade. We used to go every year with friends to the same Chinese restaurant and a martial arts studio would come in with dragons, but that's it. Never a parade. How's the new grand baby doing? Our youngest granddaughter will be 7 months this week. I had a good dose today which was a lovely time. I'll send you a photo of all three by separate email.

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  10. So colorful and what fun to see. You were clever to get there early and get some photos while you could still see.

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  11. That looks so festive and fun. And a beautiful sunny day too!

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  12. OMG, the Chinese are colonizing the world! It is like that here too last Chinese New Year.

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  13. Wow what a big show it has become ! 20 years ago it was probably the half of it. I remember that I was very impressed, I had never seen such festivities !

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  14. We enjoyed Chinese New Year when we were in Sydney last February, and am looking forward to the events on 5 March here.

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  15. It's so wonderful to see people out and about enjoying something festive. How lovely and decorative the colorful dragons are stretching out so wondrously!

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  16. ...we had a big celebration here on Maui too!

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  17. Beautiful Chinese New Year shots in London ~ !

    I remember walking through Chinatown there !

    Happy Week to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  18. Fabulous photos of the Chinese New Year celebration parade! What a colorful and fun event to attend. I did not know that the celebration in England was second only to China!

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  19. You are brave joining the crowds. Your photos are great you sure got a good position.

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  20. This is wonderful! I love examples like this of what it is like to live in a REAL City. I have such a split personality when it comes to where I'd live if I could be anywhere at all. (Wilderness or London ;>)) The tired dragon at the end made me laugh.

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