Chinese New Year celebrations bring festivities to CBD
Date published: 28 January 2016
Townsville Bulletin Square will be decorated with colourful lanterns this week ahead of traditional Chinese New Year festivities in the CBD.
This is the second year Townsville City Council has partnered with the Townsville Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Club to celebrate the event in the city centre.
The lanterns have been donated by Townsville’s Sister City Foshan, and are part of the month-long festivities beginning with a morning tea to be held in Flinders St on Thursday, February 4 from 8-9am featuring traditional Chinese dancing, tai-chi and free dumplings.
The Chinese New Year festivities will kick-start year-long Sister City activities to coincide with Townsville’s T150 celebrations.
Townsville Sister Cities Committee chair Cr Colleen Doyle said Chinese New Year was a huge celebration all around the world and it was exciting to be able to share that culture with the local community.
“Council is pleased to again partner with the Townsville Chinese Club to share this rich culture and delicious food with Townsville residents,” Cr Doyle said.
“Our city has had a long connection with China through our Sister Cities partnership which continues to strengthen from year to year.
“Last year we welcomed a Chinese artist, Mr Luo Zhiqi from Foshan, who created a sculpture for Strand Ephemera and gifted a dragon artwork to the Townsville Chinese Club.
“We have a very multi-cultural population in Townsville and it’s wonderful to have these cultures share their traditions, food and festivities.”
Townsville Chinese Club president Dr Wendy Li said last year’s Chinese New Year celebrations had been well received by the public.
“Many people have suggested that the Chinese New Year celebration should be made as an annual event,” she said.
“The colour and excitement of the longest and most important festival in the lunisolar Chinese calendar will be on show in February 2016 with vibrant lion dancing and cultural performances from artists in the local community.
“The Townsville Chinese Club partners with Townsville City Council to host a number of events and we will celebrate what Chinese people bring to Townsville including business, arts, culture, research and of course, food.”
This year is the Year of the Monkey in the Chinese zodiac and people born in the Year of the Monkey are considered witty, intelligent and have a magnetic personality.
The Townsville Chinese Club will also hold a two-hour cultural demonstration in Townsville Bulletin Square, Flinders St on Sunday, February 21 from 9-11am. Chinese food stalls will serve Chinese dishes.
