The Outdoors
January 2014Chinese New Year
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with a trip to London on February 10, 2013.
London hosts the largest Chinese New Year celebrations outside Asia - over 250,000 people attended in 2012. With parades, performances and fireworks, this is one of the capital's most spectacular events.
Sometimes known as the Spring Festival, the date of Chinese New Year varies according to the lunar and solar calendars.
Each new year is named after one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.
The celebrations begin in the late morning with a vibrant street parade along The Strand, before moving via Charing Cross to Shaftesbury Avenue and through Chinatown. Trafalgar Square becomes the focus for the afternoon's events, featuring performances, ethnic dances and displays, often by visiting Chinese artists. There are also fireworks and firecrackers, as well as food stalls in nearby Leicester Square.
Dancing dragons cavort in the streets, which are festooned with brightly coloured lanterns. For something more impromptu, head to Gerrard Street in Chinatown for food stalls and smaller parties.
