Organisers of Edinburgh’s Chinese New Year Festival have revealed a full programme of events and activities to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.
The festival is set to run across the city from from February 3 to 16 to celebrate Chinese New Year which takes place on February 10.
The programme includes Chinese New Year Concerts, dragon and lion dances, two bilingual ceilidhs, tai chi sessions, calligraphy and tarot card reading.
Edinburgh’s Chinese New Year Festival, which is supported by Heriot-Watt University and Hainan Airlines and co-ordinated by Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG) as part of its China Ready initiative, has become the largest celebration of its kind in Scotland since its inception in 2019.
The Year of the Dragon is significant in Chinese culture as the Dragon is an auspicious and extraordinary creature, symbolising power, nobleness, honour, luck and success.
Rob Lang, chair of the ETAG China Ready Initiative, said “We’re delighted to be working with businesses across the city to welcome The Year of the Dragon by creating a unique and inspiring celebration of Scottish and Chinese culture.
“Edinburgh’s Chinese New Year Festival creates an excellent opportunity to both re-affirm Scotland’s capital city as a welcoming destination for overseas visitors and also enable people of the city to learn more about Chinese history and culture.
“With more direct flights to China we are expecting significantly more Chinese visitors in 2024 and hope many Scots also take the opportunity to visit China too.”
Edinburgh’s Chinese New Year Festival 2024
The Mound Chinese New Year Celebration
On Sunday, February 4, a free Chinese New Year cultural and artistic display will take place on the Mound outside the Scottish National Gallery.
The celebration presents Lion Dances, Chinese New Year folk dances, Hanfu stories, the celebrated waist drums and the magnificent Long Fan Dance as well as children’s activities and a ceilidh.
Journey of Flavour
Johnnie Walker Princes Street is putting on two special Journey of Flavour tours, hosted in Mandarin, on February 9 and 11.
Bilingual Ceilidhs
Two Bilingual Ceilidhs welcome all comers this year, the first hosted by the University of Edinburgh at City Art Centre on February 11, and the second at St Cecilia’s Hall on February 13.
The Joyful Dragon For A Happy Chinese New Year
The Joyful Dragon For A Happy Chinese New Year at the Assembly Rooms on February 13, offers a cultural extravaganza of vibrant performances, martial arts and traditional festivities including performances from Peking Opera and Folk Chinese Orchestral Ensemble.
Chinese New Year Concert
Heriot-Watt University’s Scottish Confucius Institute for Business & Communication hosts a Chinese New Year Concert featuring musicians from Tianjin University of Finance & Economics at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on February 16.
Other events
Other events in the programme include Lion Dances at St James Quarter on Saturday 10 February, Chinese Calligraphy and Paper Cutting Artists at Strathberry on Multrees Walk, Tai Chi Taster Sessions at the Tai Chi Centre on Bryson Road and Paper Cutting and Lantern Making Workshops and a Family Trail at St Cecilia’s Hall.
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions will be lighting up and decorating some of their exhibits, and Harvey Nichols is hosting Lunar New Year Tarot Card Reading with Kalem, Scotland’s leading palmist.
Shops and businesses around Edinburgh are participating in the Festival with a range of specially themed Year of the Dragon offers.
Full details of all events, offers and activities can be found at the official website.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
