Largest Chinese New Year Celebration in Southern Hemisphere Rocks Sydney

In Australia, the whole city of Sydney is hopping with excitement for the Chinese New Year Twilight Parade, the largest annual event both for the Chinese communities and locals in the southern hemisphere. And this time is for the Year of the Rabbit.

CRI's Australian Correspondent Chen Xi files the report from this street spectacular.

The four-footed furry creature, symbolizing endurance, beauty, peace and hope, sits in fourth position on the Chinese lunar calendar.Also on the fourth day of the Year of the Rabbit, the highlight of this year's Chinese New Year celebration, Sydney's annual Twilight Parade is currently going on in the central business district of the city.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore applauds the celebration, saying it is of special importance to the local Chinese community.

"It's going to be a very beautiful parade and we think the participants from Hubei province are going to be quite magnificent, they have been preparing this for a year and we are very excited and that we are going to have a marvelous

Sydney evening. This is a celebration of our multi-culture communities here in Australia.
Our Chinese community is very significant, 10% people of Australia have a Chinese background and speak Chinese at home. "

The 15-year-old event is a feast for the senses with fabulous live music, amazing floats, dazzling dragons and costumes, enormous zodiac lanterns and much more.

And this year, over 2,500 local and international performers present their talents in this street spectacular, entertaining an estimated 100,000 onlookers.

Zhang Tong, vice-governor of Hubei, says he is delighted to bring fourth the genuine Chinese culture to Australia.

"This time, we bring three floats, four parade presenting groups and the original essence of Jingchu culture. I hope that through participating into this Chinese New Year Twilight Parade in Sydney, it will enhance the understanding of Australian people to the Chinese culture and Hubei at large."

The great night out is much enjoyed by the Chinese communities and locals as well.

"I always expect this twilight parade about Chinese New Year. And they are from Hubei this time, the martial art is marvelous and it's also the first time for me to see those floats about Jingchu culture, I could tell China makes more effects to protect the traditions."

"I think the Chinese New Year is my favorite festival. The parade is great fun, I really like the dragons and the lion dancers, I think they should be in between every single float, because they are just beautiful. I like the way they made 2011 into a rabbit and I love that metal rabbit, it was dancing and moving, it is just beautiful."
Sydney's festival is the largest Chinese New Year celebration outside Asia in southern hemisphere, including exhibitions, tours, sport, food and cinema, and it will last until next Sunday.

For CRI, I'm Chen Xi, Sydney, Australia