The Year of the Monkey

Chinese New Year starts on the 8th February but the main celebrations in London will take place on Sunday 14th February. Last year over 300,000 people attended the celebrations in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Chinatown. The same number or more is expected for this year’s celebrations.

London’s Chinese New Year Parade

Celebrations will extend from Trafalgar Square to Chinatown.  The main event is the Chinese New Year Parade.  This year the Parade starts at 10.15 am from Trafalgar Square and makes its way along Charing Cross Road and then into Shaftesbury Avenue before entering Chinatown.  This is an exciting and colourful event.  Huge dragons move through the parade teasing and taunting the crowds.  Expect to see acrobats, dancers and musicians in the parade.  If you want to watch the parade, arrive early to get a good spot.  At midday in Trafalgar Square there is an official opening ceremony to mark the start of the Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year Schedule

10:15: Opening parade

13:00: Dragon Dance and Flying Lion Dance performance at the Trafalgar Square Stage

13:30: Variety show by the Festival of Springs, Culture of China troupe, presenting an exciting mix of cultural dance and performance from China

15:30:  Szechuan Opera, Part 1, incorporating a sleeve dance, comedy and acrobatics from two of China’s most renowned opera houses

16:15: Szechuan Opera, Part 2, incorporating dance, martial arts, jujitsu, and traditional opera singing in the Szechuan tradition

17.20: Year of the Monkey Finale on the Trafalgar Square Stage, including live performances and fireworks

Expect a squeeze but don’t be put off from going.  This is a great event which we have photographed in London for a number of years.  Set your camera to shutter priority to control shutter speeds to help you get the look you want to your photos of all those moving subjects.

For more information about the Chinese New Year 2016 in London please visit the Chinatown website.