国内英语新闻:Chinese New Year celebrated all over the world

BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Thursday marked the welcoming of the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival. Celebrations for the Year 2011, also Year of the Rabbit, have been held all over the world, making the Chinese New Year a brilliant symbol in the world's culture.

The Chinese New Year is a good opportunity for China and the world to get closer and enhance their friendship. The celebrations also provided a precious occasion for people outside China to feel the unique charm of Chinese culture.

In New York, the iconic Empire State building was illuminated in red and gold to mark the Chinese New Year.

Chinese handicrafts including festive lanterns, florid Spring Festival paintings and red paper-cut were displayed in the windows on the first floor of the iconic 1,454-foot tall building.

Martin Corie, a local resident, said the sea of redness and the strong festival flavor made him feel like being in China.

In Paris, a colorful parade featuring music and dancing in the 13th arrondissement in the southern part of the city, attracts more than 100,000 people each year.

On Wednesday night, or Lunar New Year's Eve, a special program featuring Chinese folk music was broadcast by the national Radio France.

In Cairo, a cultural temple fair was held in Al-Azhar Park. Local visitors were greatly attracted by performances of the Chinese Suona horn (a woodwind instrument) and Chinese traditional art "shadow play." They also enjoyed Chinese embroidering and the practice of the traditional Chinese medical science.