2015 Chinese New Year 

Lantern Carnival

    From 19 to 21 February 2015, Sydney Harbour foreshore lighted up with the iconic glow of hand-made lanterns when the city hosts the inaugural Chinese Lantern Carnival at Darling Harbour in celebration of the Chinese New Year Festival. This event was  presented by Australia China Economics, Trade and Culture Association together with Nanhai Culture & Media (Australia) Pty. Australian Chinese Performing Artists Association, Huaxing Arts Group supported the event with 3 hours of 3 days performance for Chinese New Year Lantern Festival at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour.

    Chinese Consul-General Mr. LI Huaxin, Chinese Deputy Consul-General Ms. TANG Ying, Chinese Deputy Consul-General Mr. Tongxuejun, political leaders at city, state and federal government of Australia attended the official opening ceremony on 20 February 2015. On the following day (21 February 2015), Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott visited the field of Chinese Latern Carnival 2015 and greeted the event attender.

    The Chinese Lantern Carnival offered Sydney-siders a spectacular Chinese New Year experience, boasting a line-up of cultural performances, dazzling lanterns, diverse folk arts, more than 50 stalls selling everything from dumplings to rice balls, handicrafts, open air cinema, workshops and fun activities for the whole family.

    Originating from Han Dynasty, the Chinese lantern tradition symbolises family reunion, luck and bringing good fortune into the New Year. Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival for Chinese people all over the world and this year the Australia China Economics, Trade and Culture Association together with Nanhai Culture & Media (Australia) seek to offer all of Sydney a holiday celebration. Thousands of lanterns will form a ten-metre-long lantern porch that will merge with lotus lanterns drifting on the water, dragon lanterns flying in the sky and a series of lights forming ancient Chinese architecture.

    Chinese New Year not only conveys the cultural heritage and ethics of the Chinese nation, but also condenses their life pursuit and emotional sustenance. The Chinese Lantern Carnival is not only a festival event; it is a cultural pageant, where everyone in Sydney can get to know China. No matter where they are, the Chinese New Year has always been laid deep down in every Chinese soul.

    Carnival events include interactive lantern making stations, shadow puppet workshops, stilt performances, acrobatics, traditional Chinese instruments, kungfu shows, Asian cuisine, costume photo booths and lots more.