STORY: People worldwide embrace Dragon Year Spring Festival celebration
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 10-11, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 13, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:02
LOCATION: Paris/London/Wellington/Nairobi/Canberra/LOS ANGELES, U.S.
CATEGORY: CULTURE/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Chinese New Year celebrations around the world
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): VIOLETTE and THOMAS, Spectators
3. various of Chinese New Year celebrations around the world
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SADIQ KHAN, Mayor of London
5. various of Chinese New Year celebrations around the world

STORYLINE:
To welcome the Year of the Dragon, or the Year of the Loong, a wave of festive celebrations were held across the globe, with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds joining in to experience the Chinese Lunar New Year traditions.

On Sunday, the second day of the Lunar New Year, the Place de la Republique in the center of Paris became a colorful and bustling place where Chinese communities in France gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): VIOLETTE and THOMAS, Spectators
"It's an eye-opener. It's a great way to get into the festive spirit without having to go far. It's a culture that we don't really know much about and it gives us a sense of exploration. Maybe we'll travel to China in the future. Happy Chinese New Year!"

Also on Sunday, a traditional parade featuring dragons, dancers and floats, was held in London's Trafalgar Square and its Chinatown neighborhood.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SADIQ KHAN, Mayor of London
"These celebrations of the Chinese New Year aren't just the biggest in the UK, they aren't just the biggest in Europe, these are the biggest celebrations outside of Asia."

A series of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations were held on Saturday in Southern California, which is home to most Chinese Americans in the United States.

New Zealand's capital Wellington held a multicultural festival on Saturday to mark the start of the Year of the Dragon, with various ethnic communities gathering at the National Museum to enjoy a multicultural feast.

In Kenya, a Chinese New Year gala featuring traditional Chinese cultural performances was held at the Two Rivers Mall in the northern suburbs of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Saturday.

In Canberra, Australia, Chinese communities also celebrated the 2024 Chinese Lunar New Year with various cultural events.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Paris/London/Wellington/Nairobi/Canberra/Los Angeles, U.S.
(XHTV)