Cultures of China, Festival of Spring performance delights London audience

A Chinese New Year gala titled Cultures of China, Festival of Spring was held on Monday at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane, immersing audiences in a feast of Chinese culture that included folk songs, acrobatic dances, traditional instruments display and more.

The Cultures of China, Festival of Spring is a cultural brand hosted by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, a Chinese civic organization. 

Art troupes from China, comprised of renowned artists, tour countries around the world, offering dazzling performances and celebrating the Spring Festival with overseas Chinese communities.

Before performing at the theatre, the delegation to Europe also participated in a grand Chinese New Year celebration on Feb 11 in London's Trafalgar Square. The celebration, organized by the London Chinatown Chinese Association, is said to be the largest such event outside Asia, with more than 700,000 people in attendance.

Guo Qihua, deputy director of the cultural exchange department at the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, hailed the contributions achieved by Chinese communities in the United Kingdom toward promoting Chinese culture and advancing Sino-British bilateral relations.

"In the Year of the Dragon, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese is willing to strengthen cultural exchanges, gather friendly forces, continue the friendship between China and the UK, and steadfastly promote world peace together with everyone," he said.