China in London and the Year of the rat
February 12th 2008 10:31
In the Chinese calendar, 2008 is the Year of the Rat and on Sunday, a crowd, many thousands strong, gathered in London to celebrate it.
Accompanied by drums, whistles and a cheerfully noisy band of followers, elaborately dressed performers with ornately decorated dragons and lions paraded from Chinatown down through the West end streets to Trafalgar Square. There, the New Year was officially welcomed by Mayor Ken Livingstone and China in London, 2008 was launched. This celebration of local Chinese culture and tradition, which is one of the Mayor’s own initiatives, is now in its third year.
At the Nelson’s column end of Trafalgar square, dancers and acrobats in sumptuous costumes leapt and swayed on twin stages, while a giant screen beamed the performance to the crowds. A row of tents housed cultural stalls, selling souvenirs and mementos of the occasion. Traditionally costumed spruikers handed out fliers for China in London events, like Shen Yun, the dance spectacular at Southbank’s Festival Hall from February 22 to 24.
Up in Chinatown the crowds were shoulder ito shoulder n the streets late into the night. Restaurants were packed to the gunnels and long queues waited on the pavements outside. Teams of waiters set and re-set tables, re-distributed chairs and ushered patrons in and out, all with amazing patience and good cheer. And the parade of food was endless (although rumour had it that one restaurant had actually run out of rice – imagine!)
While the Chinese community is relatively new in London – the most significant waves of migrants arrived during the 1950s – and Chinatown really only became a recognised enclave in 1985, its presence in the city is huge and it adds enormously to its colour and life, not just at New Year nor only in the season of China in London. Its streets are always teeming with people and activity and look set to do so from now on.
China in London continues until April 4
The streets of Chinatown
Accompanied by drums, whistles and a cheerfully noisy band of followers, elaborately dressed performers with ornately decorated dragons and lions paraded from Chinatown down through the West end streets to Trafalgar Square. There, the New Year was officially welcomed by Mayor Ken Livingstone and China in London, 2008 was launched. This celebration of local Chinese culture and tradition, which is one of the Mayor’s own initiatives, is now in its third year.
At the Nelson’s column end of Trafalgar square, dancers and acrobats in sumptuous costumes leapt and swayed on twin stages, while a giant screen beamed the performance to the crowds. A row of tents housed cultural stalls, selling souvenirs and mementos of the occasion. Traditionally costumed spruikers handed out fliers for China in London events, like Shen Yun, the dance spectacular at Southbank’s Festival Hall from February 22 to 24.
Up in Chinatown the crowds were shoulder ito shoulder n the streets late into the night. Restaurants were packed to the gunnels and long queues waited on the pavements outside. Teams of waiters set and re-set tables, re-distributed chairs and ushered patrons in and out, all with amazing patience and good cheer. And the parade of food was endless (although rumour had it that one restaurant had actually run out of rice – imagine!)
While the Chinese community is relatively new in London – the most significant waves of migrants arrived during the 1950s – and Chinatown really only became a recognised enclave in 1985, its presence in the city is huge and it adds enormously to its colour and life, not just at New Year nor only in the season of China in London. Its streets are always teeming with people and activity and look set to do so from now on.
China in London continues until April 4
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