Feature: Chinese Lunar New Year adds more exotics to Berlin's multiculti repertoire

The Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, which came to an end over the weekend in Berlin, have become a festive routine for the city's cultural repertoire.

Dragon dance, Kungfu, Suona music... From Wednesday to Saturday this week, artists from China presented a feast of culture to Berlin citizens in the Arkaden shopping mall, inviting them to celebrate the Year of the Goat together.

For Berliners, who are proud of the multicultural mix of their metropolis, such celebrations are quite an experience.

Faber Wladimir, a resident in the German capital, was happy that he could enjoy performances from China at Potsdamer Platz downtown Berlin, a place which hosts the famous Berlin International Film Festival and one of the bustling Christmas markets in the German capital.

In the huge shopping center decorated by red lanterns and posters of Chinese zodiac, Chinese masters also showed handicrafts which are listed as intangible cultural heritage in China: paparcutting, wood carving, shadow puppetry...

Holding two dough figurines in his hand, Wladimir said he was attracted by news about the new year event on the Internet, so decided to come with his wife and children.

"The performances are excellent, so are the figurines. They are gifts for my children, and also for myself," he said.

Chen Jianyang, Director of China Cultural Center in Berlin who organized the event in cooperation with the Arkaden, said the event was aimed at bringing authentic Chinese culture here and promoting exchanges.

"It was the second year that we organize such a project. Arkaden said they wish to cooperate with us every year in the future," Chen said, adding that some other shopping malls in Berlin had also expressed their interest.

He said that the event would be a routine in Berlin and China Cultural Center would also seek a cooperation with the Berlin International Film Festival.

According to statistics disclosed by the Arkaden, about 150,000 people enjoyed the event last year. This year's figure is still pending.

"It's a win-win situation," said Friedhelm Acksteiner, an event agent for the project, hailing its contribution to the cultural diversity in Berlin.

"It's great to celebrate the Chinese new year not only in China, but also in Germany," said Heinz Freund, another Berliner who was taking photo of goat sculptures in the Arkaden. "There are many Chinese people living here in Germany, we are glad to celebrate the Year of the Goat together with them."

Local media, like Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, and TV Berlin, have given intensive coverage of the celebrations.

In the opening ceremony on Wednesday, German Foreign Affairs State Secretary Stephan Steinlein told audience that goat represents harmony and peace, Germany wishes to work jointly with China to realize this beautiful prophecy in the new year. Endit