This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:
Happy new year! Crowds enjoy Chinese celebrations in Leicester
The Chinese Year of the Dragon was welcomed to the city in style as hundreds of people watched a colourful dance display at Leicester market.
Music and martial arts displays kept shoppers entertained on Saturday as people gathered to take part in Leicester's Chinese New Year celebrations.
The new year officially begins today and marks the end of the winter season.
Spectators watched a traditional dragon dance, which was followed by kung fu demonstrations by members of the International Taijiquan and Shaolin Wushu Association (ITSWA).
Chinese student rock band Penalty Notice also performed.
Paul Ng, chairman of the Leicester Chinese Community Centre (LCCC), which organised the event, said: "We want to celebrate the new year and try to bring awareness of our culture to the people of Leicester at the same time.
"The event has been very well received and there have been lot of people coming along and watching the kung fu demonstrations and listening to the music – it has been a big success."
Shopper Caroline Harding, 43, was watching the martial arts show.
She said: "It's not the most common thing to see at the market, but it's really interesting. It's good to learn things about other cultures – and to see people celebrating the Chinese New Year."
It is thought there are more than 1,000 Chinese people in the city and about 4,000 in the county.
The LCCC was set up in about 1979 and is based at the junction of the Burleys flyover and Belgrave Gate.
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