Monkeys bring Chinese New Year festivity to Chicago

Among over a million visitors each year, more than 100,000 are Chinese. "Chinese visitors to the museum increased about 30 percent last year," Nora Gainer, director of Tourism Marketing, told Xinhua. "We'd like to welcome more of them to our museum."

Major landmark buildings in Chicago, including Willis Tower, John Hancock Center and CME Group Building, have been decorated with red lights, an embodiment of prosperity and happiness in China.

This is the third year for Chicago to gear up for Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations. In the past three years, the City Government of Chicago has launched various events during China's spring festival, with a view to attracting more Chinese tourists.

"Tourism is a vital and essential part of Chicago's economic strategy," Melissa Cherry, vice president of Marketing and Cultural Tourism of Choose Chicago, told Xinhua.

"When they come, they enjoy a lot of our great city assets, including our cultural institutions, shopping, dining, all of which bring dollars into the city in term of spending, which then helps support jobs and continue to brew events like this," said Cherry.

She told Xinhua that Chicago aims to attract 55 million visitors by 2020, "Chinese visitation is a critical component to our growth strategy."

Statistics from Choose Chicago show that the number of Chinese tourists that visited Chicago in 2014 reached 133,000.

Compared to visitors from other countries, Chinese tourists stay longer and spend more. On average, Chinese travelers to Chicago spend more than 4,435 dollars per travel party per trip.

Chinese Consul General in Chicago Zhao Weiping regards Chicago's celebration of the Chinese New Year as, to a large extent, a reflection of rapid growth of economic, trade and cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

"Chinese elements are everywhere in Chicago, and investment from China in Chicago has increased rapidly in recent years," said Zhao, "Chicago is optimistic of development prospects of the Chinese economy and is confident of the bilateral economic and trade cooperation."

Chicago's commitment to cultural exchange does not stop at Chinese New Year celebrations, Cherry told Xinhua.

"We will continue to collaborate and share China's wonders at some of Chicago's leading cultural events in 2016 like the World Music Festival and EXPO Chicago," said Cherry.