Firecrackers, dragons and music: Hundreds line city streets to celebrate Chinese New Year

Firecrackers going off during the Chinese New Year celebrations. (Pic Andrew Teebay).
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Liverpool's Lunar New Year celebrations hit a high note with a vibrant celebration in Chinatown and the surrounding areas. Hundreds of people enjoyed the day's festivities, which included parades, firecracker displays, martial arts demonstrations and live music.

The family-friendly event began at 11am with the popular Dragon and Lion parade. Crowds lined the streets and residents peered from upstairs windows, hoping to catch a view of the dancing symbols of good luck and prosperity for the coming year. Children could be seen on their parents' shoulders as families flocked to the city centre for the cultural celebration.

Some local businesses dangled bunches of cabbages to grab the mythical creature's attention, as cabbage is often offered to mythical creatures during Chinese New Year celebrations. Cabbage is a symbol of wealth and abundance in Chinese culture. The Mandarin word for cabbage, bai cai, sounds like bai kuai, which means "100 wealth". Further into Chinatown, people gathered in Great George Square on Sunday, January 2, to watch a host of lively performances.

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A number of performances were organised as part of the festivities, including Tai Chi demonstrations, Chinese dance, a Pagoda Arts drumming ensemble, Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu Friendship Association, and In Harmony Chamber Stars, who all took centre stage at some point throughout the afternoon.

There were also several workshops that attracted large crowds, including lantern and candle making sessions and dragon shadow puppetry. The day's energetic programme ended with a special finale by performers Bring the Fire.

This year marked the 25th anniversary of the iconic Chinese Arch being gifted to the city. Attendees gathered in the area around the Liverpool landmark to welcome the Year of The Wood Snake.

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For those with this zodiac sign, the next 12 months are expected to bring wisdom, transformation, calmness, and creativity. The sign is associated with joy, positive emotions, and new beginnings with existing connections.

Chinatown's surrounding areas will be closed from 6am until 10pm including Duke Street, Bold Street and Berry Street. Due to the latter's closure, access to businesses on Hanover Street will be severely restricted from Seel Street.

Chinese Lucky Man at the New Year celebrations.
Chinese Lucky Man at the Lunar New Year celebrations. -Credit:Andrew Teebay

A total of 21 roads and streets will close to facilitate the event. The roads are:

  • Great George Street

  • Duke Street

  • Upper Duke Street

  • Nelson Street

  • Grenville Street

  • South Sankey Street

  • Griffiths Street

  • Knight Street

  • Bold Street

  • Seel Street

  • Berry Street

  • Back Berry Street

  • Bold Place

  • Back Knight Street

  • Cookson Street

  • Pitt Street

  • Upper Pitt Street

  • York Street

  • Raffles Street

  • Roscoe Street

  • Roscoe Lane