Expats welcome Year of the Rabbit in grand parade

It was, indeed, a red-letter day for the expats — with red lanterns, fans, Chinese knots, and adorable dancers in Mandarin gowns dotting the streets and the Spring Festival Bazaar.

Dragons, pandas, 'monks', and a rabbit mascot paraded at Expo City Dubai on Saturday in the biggest Lunar New Year celebrations outside China.

There were rhythms, beats, and traditional dances at the China Pavilion, bringing the smart city to life with an East Asian vibe.

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, falls on Sunday January 22, 2023 and this time around it's the Year of the Rabbit. Each year is represented by an animal from one of the 12 Chinese Zodiac signs. CNY celebrations typically last for 15 days from the start date.

Thousands of residents joined the grand parade, with some wearing panda costumes and others holding up two giant Chinese dragons.

Besides cultural symbols and floats, the community also brought out made-in-China electric vehicles, a national product they are proud of.

After the parade, which covered two kilometres, the crowd was ushered to Al Wasl Dome. Chinese band Ma Bang — which fuses indigenous culture with other traditions and contemporary music — entertained the revellers.

Li Xuhang, Consul-General of China in Dubai said, “The beginning of a new year marks a new start. In a week, we will be celebrating the traditional Chinese New Year. On behalf of the Consulate-General of China in Dubai, I would like to wish you all a happy New Year, prosperity, smooth work, and good health, and may the China-UAE friendship last forever."