Chinatown parade celebrates Lunar New Year in Chicago

CHICAGO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of local residents crowded the streets in Chicago's Chinatown Sunday to attend the Chinese New Year celebration, which culminated in a grand parade in the busy 30-block commercial area near downtown.

The 2018 Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade in Chicago featured marching bands, colorful floats, traditional lion dance and a special appearance by lovely dogs with their owners as 2018 marks the Year of Dog according to Chinese lunar calendar.

In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to the 12-year cycle.

"Chinese dragon and lion dance is interesting, especially you see American kids perform Chinese Kong Fu in the parade, so cool." Albert Payton told Xinhua.

Chinese Consul General in Chicago Hong Lei said Chinese community has done very well during the past year, "from the parade, we can feel the spirit and energy of Chinatown and its inheritance of traditional Chinese culture."

Apart from the parade, citywide Chinese New Year Celebration themed activities had been already organized by Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Symphony Center, Art Institute of Chicago during the two-week long festival.

Chicago is the first city in the United States to launch Chinese New Year celebration in the name of city government, and 2018 will be the fifth year for the City of Chicago to mark Chinese New Year. Enditem