Brussels celebrates Chinese New Year
For the very first time, a Chinese New Year Parade was held in the streets of Brussels, gathering Chinese and Belgians for the Year of the Monkey celebrations. Attended by Mr QU Xing, Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Belgium, and Mrs Karine LALIEUX, Brussels’ Deputy Burgomaster of Culture, this very special event offered a variety of traditional Chinese performances and music concerts.
On Saturday afternoon, Brussels celebrated the Spring Festival. First of its kind in the capital of Europe, this huge event was jointly organised by the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in Belgium, the Mission of China to the European Union and the Brussels Municipal Government, with the support and participation of the China Cultural Center.
In front of the Brussels Town Hall, Belgian and Chinese high level representatives attended the unique event. Mr QU Xing, Ambassador of China to Belgium, and Mrs Karine LALIEUX, Brussels’ Deputy Burgomaster of Culture, launched the festivities. They expressed a growing desire in repeating these celebrations in Brussels and their interest in promoting Chinese culture. Among the many performances given in front of the City Hall were dragon and lion dances, folk performances accompanied with drums, martial arts, tai chi and many more. Local Chinese and Belgian groups as well as troupes coming from Beijing and Shanghai were part of the 400 artists.
After the show, an impressive parade went along the streets of Brussels. It started from the Grand Place, went all the way through Boulevard Anspach and finally ended at La Bourse where concerts of Chinese traditional music and singing were given. Even famous Manneken-Pis statue put on its traditional costume to celebrate the Year of the Monkey.
