The celebration of the Chinese New Year, the most important and traditional festival in the calendar of this community in the Catalan capital, where more than 23,500 people of Chinese origin reside, took place for the first time over two days. The festival welcomes the year 4724, the Year of the Fire Horse, initiating a new cycle.
The central event was Saturday's parade, which gathered a thousand participants from more than 65 Chinese federations and entities from Catalonia, as well as Catalan associations. The procession began at the Parc de l'Estació del Nord with the traditional striking of the gong and traveled along Vilanova avenue, Ribes, Nàpols, Ausiàs Marc streets, and Sant Joan promenade, ending at the Arc de Triomf.
The presence of authorities from the Barcelona City Council and the Consul General of the People's Republic of China underscores the institutional importance of this annual celebration for the Chinese community.
Among the officials present were the Third Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Ciutat Vella, Albert Batlle; the Fourth Deputy Mayor and Councilor for the Eixample district, Jordi Valls; and the Commissioner for Citizen Relations, Sara Belbeida, accompanied by the Consul General of the People's Republic of China, Meng Yuhon.
Throughout the two days of celebration, traditional Chinese culture shows were scheduled, including dances, Kung Fu demonstrations, and a gastronomic and cultural fair featuring traditional dishes and family workshops. This is the eleventh edition of the festival, organized by the Associació Grup Artistes Huaxing with the support of Casa Asia, the Confucius Institute, the consulate, and the Barcelona City Council.
