Chinese New Year: England welcomes the Year of the Rat
- Published
![Dragon in London parade](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/1169D/production/_110652317_mediaitem110652316.jpg)
London's celebrations began with a parade followed by events in Trafalgar Square
Performers and acrobats, flying dragons and dancing lions have been helping thousands celebrate Chinese New Year.
Events are being held in several city centres in England to welcome the Year of the Rat, which fell on Saturday.
London held what organisers claim was the largest celebrations outside of Asia, while Liverpool's took place in Europe's oldest Chinatown.
Manchester's dragon parade featured a 175ft long (53m) dragon which was accompanied by lion and ribbon dancers.
Up to 30,000 people are expected to attend festivities in Birmingham.
![Birmingham event](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/072B/production/_110653810_mediaitem110653809.jpg)
Events marking Chinese New Year have been held for the past three days in Birmingham
![Performer at London parade](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/0A41/production/_110652620_mediaitem110652619.jpg)
Numerous dragons could be spotted in city centres across the country
![Performer at London parade](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/07FD/production/_110654020_mediaitem110654019.jpg)
A lion dance took place in Trafalgar Square
![Dragon in London parade](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/27E7/production/_110651201_mediaitem110651200.jpg)
The capital claims to hold the biggest Chinese New Year event outside of Asia
![Bristol event](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/554B/production/_110653812_mediaitem110653811.jpg)
Celebrations were held in Wapping Wharf in Bristol
![Performer at London parade](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/3025/production/_110652321_mediaitem110652320.jpg)
Traditional fan and umbrella dances featured in some celebrations
![Parade in Liverpool](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/A681/production/_110652624_mediaitem110652623.jpg)
Thousands of spectators gathered in Liverpool's Chinatown
![Manchester parade](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/BE55/production/_110652784_mediaitem110652783.jpg)
Manchester's parade featured a 175ft long (53m) dragon
![People wearing masks at London celebrations](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/7607/production/_110651203_mediaitem110651202.jpg)
Some people wore facemasks at the celebrations in London
![Liverpool celebrations](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/2215/production/_110652780_mediaitem110652779.jpg)
Liverpool's lions had to contend with rain
![Birmingham event](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/13BC3/production/_110653808_mediaitem110653807.jpg)
Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the 12 animals
![Bristol event](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/A36B/production/_110653814_mediaitem110653813.jpg)
Like in many cities, Lions roamed the streets of Bristol
![Bristol event](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/EE75/production/_110654016_mediaitem110653955.jpg)
Chinese New Year is also known as Spring Festival and Lunar New Year
![Performer at London parade](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/A555/production/_110652324_mediaitem110652323.jpg)
Chinese New Year fell on 25 January
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- Published25 January 2020
- Published10 February 2019