Chinese，British footballers kick off“China in London 2007”
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone (center), Chelsea's Frank Lampard (left) and Chinese Olympic team member Wang Dalei are on a double-decker bus, waving to the crowd. They participated in a lantern lighting ceremony to mark the beginning of this year's China in London. Oxford Circus will be lit up with the glow of exotic Chinese lanterns for the following month.
China's footballer Wang Dalei and Chelsea's Frank Lampard kicked off month-long "China in London 2007" celebrations on Thursday afternoon together with London Mayor Ken Livingstone by switching on the specially designed Chinese lanterns in downtown London.
London's tourism authority Visiting London has been invited for the special occasion along with visiting Chinese Olympic Football Team to mark the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone (center), Chelsea's Frank Lampard (left) and Chinese Olympic team member Wang Dalei are about to push a switch to light up red lanterns yesterday in London's West End. The ceremony marked the beginning of this year's China in London. Oxford Circus will be lit up with the glow of exotic Chinese lanterns for the following month.
Following the lantern switching-on, "Shanghai Week" was launched to celebrate the creativity and culture of Shanghai, London's sister city. The Shanghai week features the Shanghai 360 degrees photo exhibition at City Hall, with a collection of photographs using panoramic techniques to depict the diversity and changes of Shanghai.
The National Film Theater will also showcase over 15 classic feature and short animation films produced at the Shanghai Animation Studio.
London established representative offices in Shanghai and Beijing last year to boost collaboration with China, particularly on business travel and creative industry.
Mayor Livingstone said: "After the extraordinary success of China in London 2006, I am delighted to host a new season of events, exhibitions, film screenings and performances around the capital to celebrate all things Chinese. I am particularly looking forward to this season's focus on Shanghai -- one of China's most dynamic and rapidly growing cities."
London's annual Chinese New Year parade which has developed into the largest in scale outside Asia, attracted over 200,000 audiences last year. "China in London" is also regarded as the largest celebration of Chinese New Year outside of China.
James Bidwell, chief executive of Visit London, said: "The next two years offer unparalleled opportunities to build closer ties between China and London and to promote a mutual exchange of creativity and cultural traditions. The second China in London season demonstrates London has unrivaled content for both Londoners and visitors to experience and enjoy!"
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