By Wang Zhuoqiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-02-11 10:25

LONDON: For a moment it felt like being in some part of China. Fireworks, Chinese snacks, lion and dragon dances, even lucky dumplings wrapped in red paper, everything, well almost everything, associated with Spring Festival was there. But all that was happening in London, in British capital's Chinatown, to be precise.

The parade that winded its way yesterday from Chinatown to Trafalgar Square, welcoming the Year of the Rat, had something for every visitor partaking in the celebrations of the local Chinese community.

Red lanterns lit up the Chinatown skyline, and mascots of the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games added extra color to the festivities.

The celebrations began on February 6 when UK and Chinese Olympic athletes at Oxford Circus switched on the newly designed Chinese lanterns for the two-month-long "China in London" festival.

The athletes included British 400m Olympic medalist and former BMX biker Iwan Thomas, former Olympic triple-jump champion Jonathan Edwards, and Chinese Olympic gold medalist Tian Liang, known as the "Prince of Diving".

A stuntman took to a 14-foot ramp, performing extreme BMX (bicycle motor-cross riding) skits high in the air. BMX makes its debut as an Olympic sport at the Beijing Games.

London's most prestigious cultural organizations such as the British Museum, Royal Academy of Music, Kew Gardens and the London Zoo will hold more than 500 events during the third "China in London" festival, which is also the biggest celebration of the Chinese New Year outside Asia. More than 300,000 people are expected to attend the events.

Illustrating the importance of the festival, London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "Interest in Chinese history, culture and contemporary life is increasing among Londoners and across the UK, which will continue to grow as we approach the Beijing Games.

"This year, London and Beijing share a unique Olympic moment as both cities gear up to host the Games. We are glad to share China's excitement about hosting the Olympic Games in Beijing later this year and wish them good luck in what I am sure will be a fantastic event before they pass the baton to us for 2012."

The "China in London" festival will also focus on the economic ties between China and the UK capital, building the city's profile for Chinese businesspeople, students and visitors.

The director of the cultural campaign team for the London mayor's office, Mark Prescott, said: "London is very keen to develop economic ties with China. One of our fundamental beliefs is to strengthen Londoners in better understanding and engaging with China's rich culture (so that it) can benefit our economy and culture."