中国农历新年¶
Guide to Celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year in the UK in 2020
On January 24, 2020, it was Chinese New Year's Eve, which marked the end of the lunar year. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the official start of the year 2020 was on January 25, the first day of the lunar month.
In the UK, besides the Lunar New Year celebrations organized by Chinese businesses, various city-based Chinese student associations also host their own Spring Festival galas. The Chinese student association in Manchester, in particular, has received awards for their Spring Festival gala. Some New Year celebration events in the UK require tickets, which need to be booked in advance, while others are free. Additionally, some universities in the UK hold special events to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year.
Today, Ten Sheng Miao will introduce some of the best Chinese New Year celebrations held in several UK cities. These cities host annual events that are still ongoing, and the best part is that they are all free.
London
First and foremost, Ten Sheng Miao highly recommends London as the top choice. In London, there are many other events organized by businesses or organizations to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year. However, most of them require advance booking and payment. At the end of this article, Ten Sheng Miao will provide screenshots for you to search and find more information about the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in the London area. However, Ten Sheng Miao only recommends the official Chinese Lunar New Year celebration organized in London.
London's Chinese Lunar New Year celebration has been held continuously for 17 editions and is completely free for everyone to attend. It can be said that London's Spring Festival celebration is the largest event in Europe to celebrate Chinese New Year. The official description states that London's event is "the largest Lunar New Year celebration outside Asia."
During this event, there are not only dragon and lion dances but also performances of Peking Opera, martial arts, dance, singing, and various types of traditional Chinese cuisine. The Mayor of London also personally gives a speech at the event. This celebration is completely free, and everyone is welcome to attend. The earlier you arrive, the closer you can get to the front and even take a photo with the Mayor.
In London's Chinese Lunar New Year celebration, there is a street parade featuring the largest Chinese lion and dragon procession in Europe. The parade starts from Charing Cross Road and goes through Shaftesbury Avenue in Chinatown.
London's Chinese New Year celebration takes place in Trafalgar Square, Chinatown, and the West End.
Ten Sheng Miao reminds you that Trafalgar Square is the main location to watch the performances. A stage will be set up on the square where various performances, including speeches, take place. There will also be food stalls on both sides of the square. In Chinatown, the focus is on small-scale lion and dragon dances, food stalls, photo opportunities with the 12 zodiac animals, and some smaller performances. Leicester Square offers family and friends-oriented activities such as dumpling making and calligraphy writing. The parade and performances take place from Charing Cross Road to Shaftesbury Avenue.
Please refer to the map below for the location of the activities on that day
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London Chinese Lunar New Year Event Schedule: UK Time, January 26, 2020.
The celebration activities are free for everyone to attend.
Ten Sheng Miao reminds you:
London will be very crowded on that day, so it's best to arrive early and choose to walk after reaching the vicinity of London. Avoid driving as it may lead to frustrating traffic and there may be restrictions on traffic flow on surrounding streets.
Remember to wear comfortable shoes because there are hardly any seats available. You'll be standing and walking throughout the whole event.
Bring a power bank as your phone may run out of battery quickly due to taking photos and recording videos.
Bring an umbrella or wear a hat or clothing with a hood, as it may rain at any time. You know how unpredictable the weather in the UK can be.
Ten Sheng Miao specifically advises that if you arrive early and dress or attire yourself nicely, there is a high chance of being interviewed or approached by foreigners for a photo. Ten Sheng Miao has been asked by foreigners to take photos together before.
In addition to the Mayor's speech, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, has also given speeches at Trafalgar Square in previous years.
Prepare some small cash or coins as there will be food stalls and other purchases available.
If you plan to stay in London or dine at certain restaurants, Ten Sheng Miao suggests making reservations in advance to avoid not getting a seat or having to wait for hours.
Bring your student ID card. Many places not only offer Lunar New Year discounts but also provide additional discounts for students. Some businesses may even offer small gifts, even if there are no discounts available.
For more information about the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in London, please visit the official website
：
https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/whats-on/chinese-new-year
Birmingham
Birmingham's Chinese Lunar New Year celebration will take place on January 26, 2020, from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Similar to the London area mentioned above, it is advisable to arrive early to secure a good spot. However, the number of participants in Birmingham may not be as high as in London, with an estimated attendance of tens of thousands of people.
In previous years, Birmingham's celebration has featured dragon and lion dances, dance performances, martial arts displays, and fireworks. Just like the reminder from Ten Sheng Miao in London, it is recommended to arrive early for the best experience.
The event in Birmingham is also free of charge.
Date and time: January 26, 2020, from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
address：Hurst Street, Southside, B5 4TD
Manchester
The celebration in Manchester has a longer duration, starting from January 24, the Chinese New Year's Eve, and continuing until January 26. During this time, Manchester will showcase its famous red lanterns, sparkling golden dragons, live performances, and legendary dragon parades, among other distinctive celebratory activities.
Date: January 24 to January 26, 2020.
Each celebration venue will have different programs and schedules, so visitors can plan their visits accordingly.
The events in Manchester are also completely free to attend.
Manchester has a total of 15 different activities. Here are a few highlights briefly introduced by Ten Sheng Miao. For more details on the other events, please visit the official link provided below
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Chinatown Celebrations
address：
Chinatown
Starting from January 24th to January 26th, Manchester will be filled with brand new illuminated dragon displays, traditional lion dance performances, Chinese acrobatics, singing, poetry, and kung fu demonstrations.
timetable：
friday 24th January
12pm – 8pm: Stalls
12pm – 8pm: Funfair
5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm: Illuminated Dragon Dance
Saturday 25th January
12pm – 8pm: Stalls
12pm – 8pm: Funfair
12pm – 5pm: Live Performances; Lion Dance, Chinese Dance, Singing, Poem Reading & Kungfu
5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm: Illuminated Dragon Dance
sunday 26th January
12pm – 8pm: Stalls
12pm – 8pm: Workshops
12pm – 8pm: Funfair
12pm – 5.30pm: Live Performances; Chinese Acrobatics, Lion Dance, Chinese Opera, Chinese Dance, Singing, Poem reading & Kungfu
12.30pm – 2pm: 175ft Dragon Parade (St Peter’s Square – Chinatown)
5.30pm: Illuminated Dragon Dance
6pm: Firework Finale
The Dragon Parade
The Dragon Parade celebration parade will take place from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM on January 26, 2020. It will start at St Peter's Square and proceed in a parade all the way to Chinatown.
The parade route is as follows
：St Peter’s Square -> Peter Street -> Oxford Street -> Portland Street -> Princess Street -> Faulkner Street -> Chinatown NCP Car Park
Giant Golden Dragon
There will be a 50-foot tall golden dragon in St Ann's Square.
Date and time: January 25th to January 26th, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
This is a colossal golden dragon set up for appreciation and photo opportunities.
Chinatown Fireworks Finale
Chinatown will begin its festivities on January 26th at 6:00 PM, featuring a fireworks display. The fireworks will create a dazzling starry sky, making it a beautiful sight and perfect for capturing short videos to share on social media. Ten Sheng Miao reminds you that this Chinatown is in Manchester, so be careful not to mistake it for London or any other city.
Family Craft Workshops with CFCCA
and
Family Craft Workshops with Manchester Confucius Institute
The first event is the Family Craft Workshops with CFCCA, similar to the ones in London, which offers hands-on craft activities for families and children. It is free of charge and primarily focuses on creating paper dragons and other crafts.
Venue: Exchange Court, Manchester Arndale.
Date and time: January 26th, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
The Family Craft Workshops with Manchester Confucius Institute is a creative craft workshop organized by the Manchester Confucius Institute, focusing on Chinese zodiac culture and hands-on crafts.
Date and time: January 25th, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Please note that this event is on the 25th, not the 26th, as mentioned earlier.
Venue: Exchange Court, Manchester Arndale.
For more information about Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Manchester, please visit the official website
：
https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/chinese-new-year
Liverpool
利物浦的庆祝新年活动是从1月26日开始，一直到下午六点结束。
利物浦活动时间表，如下图：
liverpool timetable：
The Taste of China Sunday Street Market
11 am
John Collins Funfair
11 am
Chinese New Year at the Black – E
11 am The Black-E
Great George Square Performance Area
11:30 am (Chinese New Year Family zone & stage)
Dragon, Unicorn & Lion Dance Street Parade
11:30am
Chinese Lucky Man Giving Red Envelope
12pm
Firecracker Display, Great George Square
1pm
Pagoda Chinese Community Centre
1:30pm
Wah Sing Chinese Community Centre
2pm
Liverpool Chinese New Year VIP Show & Dinner
6pm
For more information about Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Liverpool, please visit the official website
：
https://www.liverpoolchinatown.co.uk/events.php
University of Exeter Chinese New Year celebrations
The Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at the University of Exeter in the UK is estimated to attract several thousand participants in 2020. This university's Spring Festival celebration in Exeter is the largest in the city, with over 2,500 people attending each year. The event is organized by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) and sponsored by the University of Exeter, Students Guild, and Streetwise Fund.
Date and time: February 2, 2020, Sunday, from 1:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
Below is the schedule of activities for the day:
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Ten Sheng Miao reminds you that the outdoor performances in the city center listed above may be subject to changes due to weather conditions on the day. Any specific changes will be announced in advance on the official website of the University of Exeter.
The Chinese New Year Gala organized by the Exeter Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) is a ticketed event, with tickets priced around £10-£12. It is advised to purchase tickets in advance. The Gala will be held at the IC Hall, and please note that the Gala takes place on January 26, which is different from the event organized by the University of Exeter on February 2. Please avoid confusing the dates.
For more information about Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Exeter, please visit the official website.
：
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/internationalstudents/livingintheuk/getinvolved/chinesenewyear/
Screenshots of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in other UK cities
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