Sydney’s week-long celebration of the CNY culminated in a large twilight parade and fireworks display. The parade started at Town Hall around 7:45 pm and wound its way down to Darling Harbour through Chinatown. We grabbed a quick dinner at DIN TAI FUNG (world famous dumplings) before staking out a position on the parade route at 6 PM. Long wait, but well worth it.........weather-wise more comfortable than a similar wait for Toronto’s Santa Claus parade. The parade was a display of lanterns(traditional Orient art), including 12-giant zodiac animal lanterns, small floats, marching bands, acrobatic and martial arts clubs, cultural associations and of course, human dragons (14 athletic young men brought the shortest dragon to life with 50+ men on the grand dragon); all this to hail the arrival of a giant metal tiger. The parade closed with an invitation “to return in 2011 to celebrate the Chinese year of the Rabbit” followed by a brightly lit colourful Rabbit float! It was a treat for the eyes and ears; spectacular costumes and wild drums! It was more than just Chinese performers, the Vietnamese & the Korean communities took part for the first time. The celebration involved 2700 performers, including 300 dancers and acrobats from Chongqing, in central China. The participants truly enjoyed themselves, with tremendous energy expended, especially the dragons. We were standing so close that several times we touched or were touched by the Dragon. The end of the parade (10 PM) and the brief fireworks display at Darling Harbour overlapped so we heard but could not see the display. The parade was well attended; matching last year’s attendance with more than 100,000. This year 50 chartered flights flew in from China just for the parade. Darling Harbour is one of the most popular entertainment areas in Sydney so even after the parade ended the streets were busy with the many clubs/restaurants. As we walked back to the train station for home, the city was already returning to normal..........but we carried with us the excitement of witnessing a fantastic parade!Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Chinese New Year’s Feb 21
Sydney’s week-long celebration of the CNY culminated in a large twilight parade and fireworks display. The parade started at Town Hall around 7:45 pm and wound its way down to Darling Harbour through Chinatown. We grabbed a quick dinner at DIN TAI FUNG (world famous dumplings) before staking out a position on the parade route at 6 PM. Long wait, but well worth it.........weather-wise more comfortable than a similar wait for Toronto’s Santa Claus parade. The parade was a display of lanterns(traditional Orient art), including 12-giant zodiac animal lanterns, small floats, marching bands, acrobatic and martial arts clubs, cultural associations and of course, human dragons (14 athletic young men brought the shortest dragon to life with 50+ men on the grand dragon); all this to hail the arrival of a giant metal tiger. The parade closed with an invitation “to return in 2011 to celebrate the Chinese year of the Rabbit” followed by a brightly lit colourful Rabbit float! It was a treat for the eyes and ears; spectacular costumes and wild drums! It was more than just Chinese performers, the Vietnamese & the Korean communities took part for the first time. The celebration involved 2700 performers, including 300 dancers and acrobats from Chongqing, in central China. The participants truly enjoyed themselves, with tremendous energy expended, especially the dragons. We were standing so close that several times we touched or were touched by the Dragon. The end of the parade (10 PM) and the brief fireworks display at Darling Harbour overlapped so we heard but could not see the display. The parade was well attended; matching last year’s attendance with more than 100,000. This year 50 chartered flights flew in from China just for the parade. Darling Harbour is one of the most popular entertainment areas in Sydney so even after the parade ended the streets were busy with the many clubs/restaurants. As we walked back to the train station for home, the city was already returning to normal..........but we carried with us the excitement of witnessing a fantastic parade!
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Hey was that you laughing in the background; sound like you guys were having a blast; would have loved to been part of the mix; amazing, pictures, commentary and video; way to go, take care Marie
ReplyDeleteYes, it was me I was so focus on videoing a few seconds worth & was surprised when the dragon was right in my face! It was fun & the participants’ enjoyment was contagious! I have a photo of each of the signs ... to show up somewhere later ....
ReplyDeleteYou certainly enjoyed that dragon (or whatever it was) coming right up to you. It was no trouble to hear the laughter. Love it.
ReplyDeleteLuvs ya
Jackie
xoxox