Year of the Snake: Chinese New Year Celebration Lights Up London’s Trafalgar Square
On 2 February, the 2025 London Chinese New Year Celebration, hosted by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA) and supported by the China National Tourist Office London, took place across multiple iconic locations, including Trafalgar Square and London Chinatown. The event brought yet another spectacular cultural feast to Londoners and visitors from around the world.
Since its inception in 2002, the London Chinese New Year Celebration has become the largest Chinese New Year event outside of Asia, drawing massive crowds each year. Now in its twenty-third year, the celebration not only showcases the rich traditions of Chinese culture but also contributes over £600 million annually to London’s economy. This year holds special significance as it marks the first Chinese New Year since being officially recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, making the occasion even more meaningful as people worldwide come together to celebrate Chinese New Year.
The celebration ran from 10 AM to 6 PM, featuring a full day of festivities, including dragon and lion dance parade, outdoor cultural performances, food and market stalls, and family-friendly activities.
To mark the occasion, King Charles III, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan all sent congratulatory messages. Among the distinguished guests attending the event were H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang, Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and his wife Counsellor Hua Mei; LCCA Chairman Mr. Chu Ting Tang OBE; Councillor Robert Rigby, Lord Mayor of Westminster; Rose Wangen-Jones, Managing Director of London & Partners; and LCCA Festival Director Huang Ping. Together with thousands of attendees, they joined in the celebrations, welcoming the Chinese New Year with great enthusiasm.
(Photo of the guests at the main stage of the Year of the Snake Chinese New Year celebration at Trafalgar Square. Photo by He Tingde)
(Photo of the bustling crowd at the Year of the Snake Chinese New Year celebration at Trafalgar Square. Photo by Yu Jiaying)
(Shaolin Poles Lion Dance performance at the Year of the Snake Chinese New Year celebration. Photo by Liu Chuan)
Guests from China and the UK Gather to Celebrate the Year of the Snake
King Charles III sent a message of congratulations, extending his heartfelt wishes to all those attending the celebration and wishing the event every success.
Ambassador Zheng Zeguang, representing the Chinese Embassy in the UK, expressed his gratitude to the LCCA for organising the Chinese New Year celebration. He also noted that the Spring Festival has been recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. He emphasised that Chinese New Year symbolises renewal, family reunion, and prosperity, and that this event reflects the spirit of peace, unity, friendship, and collaboration. The enthusiastic participation of attendees highlights their support for UK-China cooperation and their hope for collective efforts from all nations. In his speech, Ambassador Zheng conveyed New Year greetings to Chinese nationals, students, employees of Chinese enterprises and institutions, and friends from all walks of life in the UK, wishing everyone peace, happiness, and prosperity in the year ahead.
(Ambassador Zheng Zeguang delivers a speech on the main stage. Photo by Liu Chuan)
The Chairman of LCCA, Mr. Chu Ting Tang OBE, said: “The snake, with its unique symbolism of wisdom and agility, is widely admired, representing personal growth and social progress. As we step into the Year of the Snake, may we all experience transformation and rise to new heights in the coming year, creating a bright future together within the Chinese and British communities.”
(Ambassador Zheng Zeguang (second from left) and his wife (first from left), the Chairman of the LCCA, Mr. Chu Ting Tang OBE (second from right). Photo by Liu Chuan)
UK Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer sent his warm regards, saying, “I extend my sincere thanks to the UK Chinese community for the invaluable contributions you have made to this country. I look forward to us all embracing the wisdom and resilience symbolized by the Year of the Snake, and working together for a brighter future!”
London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Debbie Weekes-Bernard, expressed her gratitude to the organisers and the London Chinese community in her speech. She said, “Without your dedication and hard work, we would not have such a wonderful celebration of the New Year. I am truly excited for the upcoming performances!” She also mentioned that the UK is home to 400,000 Chinese international students, an integral part of the country’s academic, economic, and intellectual growth. On behalf of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, she sent her heartfelt wishes for a prosperous Year of the Snake and a joyful Chinese New Year!
(London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Debbie Weekes-Bernard, delivers her speech on the main stage. Photo by Liu Chuan)
Counsellor Robert Rigby, Lord Mayor of Westminster, said: “As the Mayor of Westminster, I am looking forward to the 2025 Chinese New Year celebrations. This event will add cultural depth to the streets of Westminster and attract visitors from the local area, across the UK, and from around the world to witness the largest Chinese New Year celebration outside of Asia.”
(LCCA Festival Director Huang Ping (left) and Lord Mayor of Westminster Robert Rigby (right). Photo by Liu Chuan)
Huang Ping, Festival Director of LCCA, said: “It is an honour for the LCCA to host the largest Chinese New Year celebration outside of Asia once again. This year, inspired by the ‘wisdom of the snake,’ we have brought together diverse communities from across London to present a vibrant and unifying cultural feast. From Trafalgar Square to Chinatown, and to the newly added Dean Street stage, each location is filled with highlights that symbolise wisdom and transformation, aiming to provide every participant with an unforgettable festive experience. I would like to extend my special thanks to all of our sponsors, volunteers, and partners.”
Grand Parade Stuns the City, A Visual Feast Lights Up London
At 10am, the parade, composed of dragon and lion dancers, major UK community groups, and intricately handcrafted floats, set off from Charing Cross Road. The procession, lasting two hours, passed through Shaftesbury Avenue and concluded at Piccadilly Circus.
(The Snake Year Chinese New Year Parade Floats. Photo by Liu Chuan)
Dozens of uniquely styled parade teams brought the festive spirit and harmony of the Chinese New Year to life, delivering a visual feast for Londoners and tourists alike. The grand dragon and lion dance teams led the procession, accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of gongs and drums. The dragon dancers skilfully manoeuvred, weaving through the crowd, captivating spectators along the sides of the road.
Performers dressed in vibrant ethnic costumes and Taiji fan dancers in Mamianqun (horse-face pleated skirt) were also featured, engaging enthusiastically with the audience. There was also the “God of Wealth” handing out gold ingots and elegant marching teams in qipao and Hanfu, showcasing the unique charm of Chinese culture. Additionally, a London fire truck adorned with a Chinese dragon became one of the standout highlights of the parade, symbolising the exchange and fusion of Chinese and Western cultures.
(The Snake Year Chinese New Year Parade Float. Photo by Liu Chuan)
(The Snake Year Chinese New Year Parade Float. Photo by Liu Chuan)
(Children in the Snake Year Chinese New Year Parade Procession. Photo by Liu Chuan)
(Young Performers in the Snake Year Chinese New Year Parade Procession. Photo by Yu Jiaying)
(Snake Year Chinese New Year Parade Float Procession. Photo by Yu Jiaying)
(Snake Year Chinese New Year Parade Float Procession. Photo by Liu Chuan)
(Snake Year Chinese New Year Parade Float Procession. Photo by Liu Chuan)
(Snake Year Chinese New Year Parade Float Procession. Photo by Wang Yini)
At noon, Trafalgar Square hosted a grand Chinese New Year celebration, which included the traditional eye-dotting ceremony for the lion dance, symbolising a new year filled with good fortune and blessings. The celebration began with thrilling Shaolin Poles Lion and Dragon Dance, offering the audience an exciting visual treat. Following this, artists from various regions took the stage to showcase a vibrant array of performances, including Sichuan opera bian lian and a stunning fashion show featuring traditional costumes from different Chinese ethnic groups.
(Lion dance performance on the main stage of the Snake Year New Year celebration. Photo by Liu Chuan)
(Children’s choir performance of “The China in the Lights” at the celebration. Photo by Sun Yuchen)
(Performance teams waiting backstage for the Snake Year Spring Festival float parade. Photo by Liu Chuan)
Spectacular Celebrations and Rich Cultural Experiences at the Festival
This year’s celebration featured several new and unique activities. For the first time, a community stage was set up at the northwest corner of Chinatown’s Dean Street, where local community groups and schools presented a wide range of performances. These activities highlighted the diversity of Chinese New Year traditions while promoting community unity and cultural exchange.
Around Trafalgar Square and the main streets of Chinatown, food stalls, traditional goods, and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) experience areas were set up, allowing visitors to sample authentic Chinese food, admire exquisite handicrafts, and participate in ICH demonstrations. Several lion and dragon dance teams also visited Chinatown and surrounding shops, offering traditional “awakening the lion” blessings to wish for prosperity and success in business.
Leicester Square introduced a Family Cultural Zone, offering interactive workshops and cultural activities that attracted numerous families. Visitors had the chance to experience traditional Chinese New Year customs, such as writing Spring Festival couplets, making paper-cuttings, and creating window decorations. The Spring Festival-themed art exhibition, featuring children’s artwork, added to the festive atmosphere.
The celebration also featured various Chinese elements that delighted the audience. A giant image of the famous “Welcoming Pine” from Huangshan was displayed on Dean Street’s small stage, attracting many visitors. Additionally, Chinese car brand BYD made its debut at the London Chinese New Year, showcasing its latest electric vehicle model. Teams from Caofeidian College of Technology and Tangshan Maritime Institute also made their debut on both the main and community stages at Trafalgar Square, and set up a handmade crafts booth at Leicester Square. These teams demonstrated traditional skills, such as shadow puppetry, dough figurines, tie-dye, and reed painting.
Notably, Fei Xiang, Yu Shi, and producer Luo Shanshan, from the Chinese film “Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force” which is exclusively distributed in the UK by Chinese Film Industry, sent their New Year greetings to overseas Chinese. Meanwhile, renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang and Hong Kong singer Eason Chan recorded special Chinese New Year messages as well.
(International visitors dressed in traditional Chinese costume pose for a photo with the Panda mascot and the English-language Chinese New Year special edition of China Minutes at Trafalgar Square. Photo by Wang Yini)
(Children visitors at Trafalgar Square pose for a photo with the Panda mascot, Mr. Panda, and the English-language Chinese New Year special edition of China Minutes. Photo by Wang Yini)
(Couple of visitors at Trafalgar Square sharing a heartfelt kiss while holding the English-language Chinese New Year special edition of China Minutes. Photo by Yu Liangyi)
Ala from Poland has a deep interest in Chinese culture. During her trip to Beijing last year, she purchased a tiger-head hat, symbolising good luck and bravery. This year, she wore it to the London Chinese New Year celebrations, hoping to better immerse herself in the festive atmosphere. “The dragon and lion dances, the parade floats here remind me of my experience in Beijing. The Chinese New Year culture is truly captivating!” Ala said excitedly. She looks forward to experiencing more traditional Chinese culture and soaking in the festive spirit in the future.
Nicholas and his family, from Hastings, specially brought their young daughter to London to immerse themselves in the lively New Year celebrations. Nicholas has Hong Kong Chinese heritage, and they hoped that their daughter would not only enjoy the exciting dragon and lion dances but also feel the joy and cultural charm of the Chinese New Year. To make the occasion even more special, they bought a complete set of traditional red New Year clothes and a tiger-head hat for their daughter online in advance. The child’s mother, Mary, said, “We plan to visit China next year for the Spring Festival so that our daughter can experience the traditional customs firsthand. We hope she will grow up understanding different cultures and draw inspiration from them.”
(Trafalgar Square visitors attending the Chinese New Year celebration. Photo by Yu Jiaying)
As night fell and the lanterns began to glow, the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year celebrations remained lively, with many visitors still lingering at the scene. The Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square was illuminated with Chinese red and Snake Year blessings, while special light effects lit up the night sky, bringing the celebration to its peak.
