'Happy Chinese New Year' gala lights up Copenhagen

On Feb. 8, the Chinese Embassy in Denmark, the Beijing municipal government and the Copenhagen government held a ceremony in downtown Copenhagen to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the China-Denmark comprehensive strategic partnership and the upcoming Chinese New Year. 

The DGI-byen convention center, decorated with lanterns and Chinese knots, welcomed hundreds of people including Copenhagen and Chinese government officials, representatives from Chinese companies in Denmark, and Chinese tourists and students in Denmark to the "Happy Chinese Near Year" gala. The celebration activities included colorful performances such as lion dancing, acrobatics, tai chi, Peking Opera and martial arts. The performances representing the traditional Chinese culture received continuous applauses and wide praise from the audiences.

The audiences also had a chance to interact with the artists at such events as the customs exhibition featuring Peking Opera masks and sugar paintings.

As part of the gala, the Copenhagen Central Library also set up a reading corner of Chinese books on Feb. 7.

Liu Dong, cultural counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Denmark, said a 30-people delegation from the Jilin Provincial Art Troupe previously visited Denmark on Jan. 19-29 and presented eight performances, including songs, dances, traditional music, Peking Opera and magic shows, in seven Denmark cities, receiving high praise from the Danish people. 

Liu said that as the relation between China and Denmark becomes even more solid, Chinese culture is receiving more attention among the local people. They are becoming very passionate about Chinese food, Chinese temple fairs and Chinese performances, and the "Happy Chinese New Year" gala opens a window for them to learn about Chinese culture.