“Happy Chinese New Year” Celebrations Launched in Budapest

The launching ceremony of the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" celebrations in Budapest took place at the site of the dragon lantern festival, the Budapest Zoo, on January 25.

Over 200 attendees, including Gong Tao, the Chinese ambassador to Hungary, Janos Csak, Hungary's minister for culture and innovation, and representatives from the political, business, cultural, and tourism sectors of both China and Hungary as well as students participated in the event.

Artists from China and Hungary jointly presented a high-level and captivating performance. The ceremony also featured interactive activities such as the display and printing experience of the national intangible cultural heritage – Taohuawu Woodblock New Year Prints, the display of hand-painted lanterns with the theme of "Chinese Dragon in My Heart" by Hungarian children, and a Hanfu parade.

After the ceremony, Chinese and Hungarian guests visited the dragon lantern festival. The intricately designed and diverse Chinese lanterns vividly conveyed the spirit of openness, kindness, and friendship inherent in Chinese culture to the Hungarian people. The lantern festival not only showcased wellknown Chinese symbols such as pandas, Terracotta Warriors, and the Chinese dragon but also incorporated cultural elements from different countries, including the Egyptian pyramids, Santa Claus, and polar bears. Hundreds of lanterns created a dazzling and dreamlike world.

The event was co-hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, with the support of the China International Culture Association, the China National Tourist Office, and the China Cultural Center in Budapest.