London Chinatown and Trafalgar Square

Sunday, January 29, 2012

2012 is a year with plenty to celebrate. From the London 2012 Olympic Games to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Londoners are preparing for a fantastic year of parties, parades and events across the capital. The Chinese New Year of the Dragon will be kicking off a year of celebrations to remember on 29th January 2012, and next year the festivities are set to be bigger and better than ever before!

Sunday 29th January 2012 will see the arrival of the Dragon, a creature renowned in Chinese legend, to the heart of London's West End to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. Often seen as perhaps the most important sign in the Zodiac, Chinese tradition dictates that those born in Dragon years tend to be brave, innovative and highly driven often making it to the top of their profession. Famous people born in Dragon year include Colin Farrell, Bill Clinton, Reese Witherspoon and Salvador DaliThis year's celebrations will run from 10am until 6pm at locations across the capital:

Festivities will begin at 10am with the return of the fantastic New Year's parade around the West-end. Passing through Chinatown, Shaftsbury Ave, Charing Cross Road and Rupert Street the parade will reach its final destination of Trafalgar Square at 12pm.
An official opening ceremony will then take place in Trafalgar Square from 12pm with speeches from special guests including Mayor of London Boris Johnson [b1] and the Chinese Ambassador to London, Mr. Liu Xiaoming
Once officially opened, the real celebrations will kick off with Dragon dancing, music and performances on the Trafalgar Square stage from 12pm-6pm
Alongside Trafalgar Square, a second stage on Shaftesbury Avenue will host performances from a range of local community groups and schools, also from 12pm – 6pm
Meanwhile Chinatown will play host to a parade by Lion dancers as well as a range of stalls selling traditional produce throughout the day

2012's New Year of the Dragon celebrations are set to see the most spectacular yet. For more information on the day please visit the official London Chinatown website at http://www.chinatownlondon.org/

Last year over 300,000 people took part in the celebrations across the capital. Trafalgar Square hosted an afternoon of world-class dance, music and acrobatics routines following an official opening ceremony while Chinatown featured an array of special decorations and food stalls. Shaftesbury Avenue became "Hong Kong in London" for the day with a stage featuring performances by Chinese artists.