Liverpool Chinatown New Year 2001
Report of the Chinese New Year Celebrations in Liverpool's Chinatown in 2001

"Probably the Best Arch in World!"

With the "authentic" Chinese archway finally completed and the official twinning of the Scousers' hometown with China's "Gateway to the West" Shanghai, this year marked a double celebration for the Liverpudlians! A
bright, clear day helped to draw the crowds into the streets of Chinatown and produced one of the biggest crowds of recent years.

A whole week of cultural and social events, including seminars and karaoke parties was drawn to a close on Sunday 28th January, but what a grand finale it turned out to be! A Dragon, Lion and Unicorn troupe led the crowds through the streets together with the Big Headed Boy, visiting the businesses along the way to perform the lettuce eating ceremony for a prosperous Year of the Snake. Fire crackers were lit, which scared all the children and a street market lined the main area in Nelson Street, selling everything from paper dragons and plastic snakes to sweetcorn soup and char siu fried rice.

Chinese, English, Europeans, Indians, Africans, people from all over the world - young and old - all joined together in celebrating the New Year, showing a diversity and a unity that is a trademark of the city.

For myself, working on one of the market stalls - I was cold and continually harassed by little kids wanting to buy a Good Luck Windmill (with their parents convincing them the cheaper option of a dragon would be better), but to see my hometown a buzz of excitement about a festival so important to my background and so interested in Chinese culture warmed my heart (if not my hands) and fired my enthusiasm for making the experience for them, one to remember. And it certainly was!