by Julia Pierrepont III, Gao Shan, Tan Jingjing
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Residents and tourists have celebrated the Chinese New Year in Southern California these days with a wide array of events like traditional cultural performances, gourmet festivals, arts and crafts shows, and community gatherings.
They also queued to watch "Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession Parade" in Disneyland, participated in "Walking with Pandas" in the San Diego Zoo, experienced Chinese folk culture at the Huntington Library, or listened to the Pacific Symphony's annual festivities celebrating the Year of the Snake at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
The events highlighted the diversity of the Southern California communities and offered opportunities for people to honor long-standing traditions or enjoy new experiences.
While the Chinese New Year officially began in late January, many festival activities continue to be held throughout February, and even into March due to rescheduling after the Los Angeles devastating wildfires in January.
Red lanterns, blessing characters, and lion and dragon dances are a staple of many celebrations, often accompanied by martial arts demonstrations, traditional Chinese singers and musicians, as well as graceful dancers in colorful, elegant costumes. Other art forms like calligraphy, lantern-making, and paper cutting are also common.
Vendors from many cultures offered a variety of Asian cuisines and desserts as well as craft and merchant booths with unique goods for sale.
Some shopping centers were hosting Chinese New Year events and offering special promotions.
Good wishes and hopes for the future also await visitors at the San Diego Zoo, which welcomed a pair of lovely giant pandas "Yunchuan" and "Xinbao" last summer from China.
Last weekend, visitors interacted with animal experts at the zoo and also took an early morning trip to greet the giant pandas. The zoo's wildlife experts led visitors on a guided stroll through rolling hills to an unforgettable experience at Panda Ridge.
Some prominent cultural institutions in Southern California were also actively organizing activities to introduce the culture and traditions of China and Asia to the public.
Tickets for the Chinese New Year celebrations at the Huntington Library, a famous cultural research institution and tourist hotspot in the western United States, have long been sold out online.
Cindy, a local resident, told Xinhua on Saturday that she has participated in the annual Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations at Huntington Library for several years.
"I love to watch Chinese martial arts, opera performances and lion dance. They are part of Chinese traditional culture," she said.
Cindy joined Tai Chi practice at the Chinese New Year celebrations. She said the events offered a very good opportunity for American people to immerse in and experience Chinese culture.
Sue, a resident from Santa Monica, west of Downtown Los Angeles, took a one-hour drive to join Huntington Library's Chinese New Year events with her whole family. "We are so impressed by the variety of Chinese cultural events," she said.
Sue told Xinhua that the Chinese Spring Festival offers a window to learn and appreciate Chinese culture. She expects to see more cultural exchanges between the two countries.
