Monday 30 January 2017

Londoners celebrate Chinese New Year with party in Trafalgar Square

Dancers perform a Chinese flying lion dance in Trafalgar SquareImage copyrightPA
Thousands of people have taken to the streets of central London to celebrate Chinese New Year.
The annual event sees dancing lions, acrobats and floats parade from Shaftesbury Avenue to Trafalgar Square.
Performers await the start of the Chinese New Year parade in LondonImage copyrightPA
The new year, also known as the Spring Festival, is based on the lunar Chinese calendar so it changes each year.
A young performer prepares to take part in a Chinese New Year paradeImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Members of the Chinese community perform a Image copyrightAFP
Each year is marked by one of 12 animals that appear on the Chinese zodiac. This year is the year of the Rooster.
Performers take part in a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year paradeImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Participants perform the Dance of the Lion as they take part in an event to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the RoosterImage copyrightREUTERS
The event in London is said to be one of the biggest outside Asia.
Chinese New Year paradeImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Performers in costume receive offerings from local businesses in Chinatown during the Chinese New Year celebrationsImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES