Chinese New Year Parades Around the World

by Jordan Yerman | February 1, 2009 at 07:17 am

1329 views | 20 Recommendations | 10 comments

Today is the first Sunday after the Lunar New Year, so we get to watch Chinese New Year parades in major cities around the world. Sydney, New York, Vancouver, London, San Francisco... and your town. If you're watching or taking part, let us know.

Gung Hay Fat Choy.

This year's parade, which attracted more than 100,000 spectators, began for the first time at twilight to give full effect to the traditional lanterns.

Crowds were lined up to 10 deep to watch floats carrying giant creatures - a horse, a snake, a dragon, a tiger - lit up from the inside.

"We can do a lot with lanterns and light," said the creative director of the City of Sydney, Gillian Minervini. "It's a lot more spectacular show."

London's Chinatown, small but vibrant, is also holding its annual parade today, including a visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who's on the way back home from the Davos conference.

In Vancouver, the other rainy city, the parade starts at 10am. Check here for transit schedule changes and street closures.

New York City: This one's huge. One year I nearly got set ablaze by fireworks. It was awesome. Show up early, since the streets of Chinatown are narrow, and this event gets insanely crowded. The parade starts at 1pm, and covers Mott Street, East Broadway (yes, there's an East Broadway), Chatham Square, Chrystie Street, Grand Street, and Allen Street. Don't even think about thinking about driving to Chinatown or the Lower East Side today.Take the Subway to Canal Street (for full-on crowd-crush), Bowery, Grand St, Delancey St, Essex St, East Broadway, or Chambers St.

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i love technology

at 09:18 on February 1st, 2009

i love technology has contributed a photo to this story.

Quiet Storm

at 10:43 on February 1st, 2009

While walking through Chinatown I noticed a couple shoot of a few streamers in celebration of Chinese New I happen to catch it with the Chinese Flag in full glory

Quiet Storm has contributed a photo to this story.

Karen AJ

at 11:31 on February 1st, 2009

It was cold, it started snowing, but the weather didnt put off the crowds in Albert Square, Manchester, UK.
As the firecrackers erupted and the dragon made it's entrance from the Town Hall, to officially welcome 'The Year of The Ox' the crowds enjoyed the sights and sounds of Chinese New Year in northern England

Karen AJ has contributed a photo to this story.

rtaylor.info

at 11:47 on February 1st, 2009

This is one of the streets around China Town in London, the lanterns looked amazing, which is what i wanted to capture with my picture.

rtaylor.info has contributed a photo to this story.

158

at 11:50 on February 1st, 2009

Why not have a parade on New Years day?

tigre64

at 14:32 on February 1st, 2009

Chinese Folk Dancer
New Year Celebrations in Birmingham, UK.

tigre64 has contributed a photo to this story.

Uwe Paschen

at 15:47 on February 1st, 2009

I think it is one of the greatest celebration we have.

Anny Jacopetti

at 16:51 on February 1st, 2009

The parade as well as many other events celebrating the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) in Sydney, has been a wonderful and full of energy experience to everyone that is up to join the party. Great way to start 2009.

Anny Jacopetti has contributed a photo to this story.

Sing Gao

at 17:55 on February 1st, 2009

These girls are from Henan China to Sydney Australia to attend the Year of the OX parade 1st Feb 2009, their Chinese traditional hair style looks good and the huge fade eyelash seem very funny.

Sing Gao has contributed a photo to this story.