Huge red and yellow balloons float over the waterfront Plaza of Nations in downtown Vancouver, Canada. Competing for attention are numerous traditional Chinese lanterns lining pavilions.

This year, when the Mid-Autumn Festival falls in the same week as China's 60th National Day, it has more than enough reasons for the Chinese communities in Vancouver to hold a huge celebration party -- the Vancouver Chinese Cultural Festival.

The three-day festival held over the weekend was an exciting party featuring international music and multi-genre dancing, a trendy fashion show, performances of martial arts and informative exhibitions.

In the food section of the festival grounds, the alluring smell of spicy grilled meats attracted a long queue of party-goers. ChefJames Chen was busy sprinkling spices over skewers of lamb, beef, chicken and shrimps roasting on top of barbeque grills.

"Most of my customers are immigrants from northwest China. They find this authentic Xinjiang snack brings back fond memories of their homeland," James Chen said. "Then of course there are people of all nationalities who want to try new tastes and are led here by the mouth-watering smell."

Chen immigrated to Vancouver 13 years ago, and together with his wife Susan, has successfully set up his own restaurant specializing in Xinjiang barbeques.

On the other side of the festival grounds, leisurely walking along the pavilion of education institutes was the Geodecke family of four.

"We come from Germany, and are now on holiday in Vancouver," Geodecke said in broken English with a heavy German accent, as hiswife and children chipped in to help complete the English language. "We are fascinated by the sight and sound here and so come to join the fun."

In particular, the Geodeckes found the martial arts performances impressive. "We have heard of Chinese Kungfu on many occasions but this is the first time we see it done so close and upfront on stage," Geodecke said.

Many different disciplines of Chinese martial arts are practiced and taught in Greater Vancouver. On Sunday, Shaolin basics were also performed on stage by local practitioners, which caught the eye of many passersby, including a young woman and her 8-year-old son.

"I bring my son here just so that he can see how masters practice martial art," said the woman, who identified herself as Yang. "Brandon (her son) goes to practice Kungfu once every week after regular school. He has gained a lot of confidence in front of his peers after learning the art of fighting and self-discipline."

During the festival, stage performances were spectacular and diverse in style.

Traditional lion dancing opened the festival as well as gracing the stage whenever excitement was called for.

A local youth philharmonic orchestra performed musical works from England, Finland, France, Russia and the United States. Pianists played works of Chopin and Mozart, and Erhu players played selections from China's minority groups.

Soloists and choirs sang folk songs from all over the world, with an emphasis on a rich repertoire of Chinese regional folk songs and art songs.

Some pavilions were here to generously pass on convictions. Jeffrey Witten, a local lawyer, set up a booth in the festival "to give out information and to make new friends."

"We find that many immigrants are not familiar with the Canadian laws. They are hungry for information," Witten said. "The Canadian justice system is unique in the world. People from all over Asia want to know about it, and in particular, they want to know about details, for example, what to do when involved in a car accident. We are here to help them."

Witten and his partner Gary McComb run a legal firm in Vancouver. In their more than 15 years of service in Vancouver, they have retained many Chinese-speaking clients.

Not far away, behind the Jilin Xinhua Bookstore counter, college student Rebecca was tidying books on display. Rebecca, a new immigrant from China, worked as a volunteer with the bookstore.

"These are all currently hot sales in China," she said, pointing to the fictions and non-fictions, children's books and cook books, as well as maps and academic reference books on the shelves.

"I cannot imagine a Chinese person without a Chinese book in the home, even though this is Canada," Rebecca said.

According to Statistics Canada, the country's official census body, there are about 2.5 million people living in the metropolitan area of Greater Vancouver. Of these people, more than17 percent are of Chinese origin.

Vancouver has established itself as the second most multi-ethnic city in Canada after Toronto.

Canada instilled a Canadian Multiculturalism Act into its legal system in 1971. The law upholds that multiculturalism is a fundamental characteristic of the Canadian heritage and identity, and that it provides an invaluable resource in the shaping of Canada's future.

Globally, Canada is the leading country in accepting immigrants, having the highest per capita immigration rate in the world.

As far as multiculturalism is concerned, there is nothing more appropriate than holding a fun festival, like the Vancouver Chinese Cultural Festival, where everybody in Vancouver can celebrate the rich diversity amongst the communities.

(Xinhua News Agency October 6, 2009)