On Jan. 26 and 27, New Yorkers and tourists will be in for a treat. The crown of the Empire State Building in Manhattan will be lit up in hues of red and gold to welcome the Chinese Lunar New Year, which starts on Jan. 28.
In a report by new.xinhua.net, the lighting ceremony will be led by John B. Kessler, president and CEO of the Empire State Realty Trust, and Zhang Qiyue, the Consul General to the United States. It was announced during a briefing in the Chinese Consulate General in New York by Shirley Young, chair of the U.S.-China Cultural Institute.
A spectacular fireworks show by CAFA will also light up the New York night sky on Jan. 26. The show will begin at 8:30 p.m. It will be divided into four themes, tied together by traditional Chinese philosophy, with elements of objects, civilization, and nature.
Art Exhibition and Concerts to Welcome the Year of the Rooster
The lighting ceremony will usher in an array of China-related cultural events in celebration of the start of the Year of the Rooster. The events will be co-hosted by the U.S.-China Cultural Institute and the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA).
The Metropolitan Pavilion and the New York Institute of Interior Design will both host four themed exhibitions from Jan. 23-29 and Jan. 26-29, respectively. These exhibits include "Cross-Cultural Dialogue: China-America Art Students Exhibition," "Image of the Mind: Contemporary Chinese Art Exhibition," and "Abstract Art in Dialogue."
To end the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in New York, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a special concert on Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m., at the David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center.
"The series of cross-cultural events will serve as a handy window for Chinese and American people to appreciate and better understand each other's culture and traditions," Young said in the press briefing.