Year of the Tiger marked in the city

A man snapping solid metal bars over his head to the calming melody of traditional Chinese music are not everyday sights and sounds in Valletta's St George's Square.

Hundreds of people braced themselves for the nippy air and flocked to the square for a glimpse of the Orient as the Chinese Spring Festival kicked off in Malta for the fourth consecutive year.

They were not disappointed. They were greeted with an eclectic mix of martial arts, dance, music and magic tricks in celebration of the Year of the Tiger.

Zheng Keyuan, Chinese Ambassador to Malta, said: "The Spring Festival means spring is just around the corner.

It represents a time of happiness and family reunion and is the most important traditional holiday in China."

The festival is being staged by the China Cultural Centre in conjunction with the Valletta local council, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, and the tourism and culture ministries. It features performances by the China National Acrobatic Troupe, Beijing Dance Academy and China Opera and Dance Drama Company.

After the opening performance in St George's square, a parade went through Republic Street towards the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Other attractions included the traditional lion dance, a Kung Fu display and a puppet show.

The festival continues at the Mediterranean Conference Centre this evening at 8 with a Chinese spectacular, the highlights of which will be Balancing On A Single Hand, an acrobatic act which won the Gold Award at the International Juvenile Art Festival in Italy, and Kung Fu acts during which jaw-dropping stunts and various disciplines of martial arts will be showcased.

The Chinese New Year dinner will be held at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Floriana on February 13, at 8 p.m. February 14 heralds the Year of the Tiger.

mt.china-embassy.org