MINSK, 1 February (BelTA) – Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, will be celebrated in Minsk on 2 February, Head of the Culture Department at the Chinese Embassy in Belarus Zhang Hongwei told the media on 1 February, BelTA has learned.
According to the diplomat, a gala concert dedicated to the Lunar New Year will take place at the Belarusian State Philharmonic on 2 February. The program will feature unique performances by Chinese artists from a Hunan Province song and dance company. Founded in 2000, the ensemble has already performed at 7,000 stages across the world. For several years in a row, the company has been regularly taking part in the events dedicated to the Spring Festival.
“The Spring Festival in Belarus will display the diversity of the ancient Eastern culture and show the special attitude of the Chinese people to the coming of spring which symbolizes the beginning of everything new. The spectacular gala concert will help the audience learn more about Chinese customs and traditions, and also evaluate China's rich cultural heritage,” Zhang Hongwei remarked. He expressed confidence that the upcoming event will strengthen Belarus-China ties in culture and arts.
Hundreds of school students gathered for the holiday at the Minsk State Palace of Children and Youth on 1 February. The event was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Cui Qiming. The palace is hosting an exhibition “Chinese stories 2017”, calligraphy and painting master classes, flash mobs, tastings of Chinese dishes and other interactive events which help young Minskers learn more about China's national traditions.
The events in Minsk are organized by the Chinese Embassy in Belarus, the Belarusian and Chinese culture ministries in cooperation with the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and the Chinese Cultural Center in Minsk.
The Spring Festival symbolizes the ideal of life and is known as one of the most important and large-scale holidays in China. With a history of over 4000 years, the festival expanded beyond the borders of China long ago. The Belarusian capital will celebrate the holiday for the fourth time.
