4th and 5th February 2023 coincide with the Chinese traditional Lantern Festival. The Australian National Maritime Museum’s Terrace Room and wharf in Darling Harbour were decorated with beautiful lanterns and festoons, creating a strong Chinese festival atmosphere. During the two days, China Cultural Centre in Sydney and the Australian National Maritime Museum jointly presented Lunar Sea and Happy Chinese New Year Celebration to introduce the Chinese traditional culture to the Australian public.
On 4th February, the opening ceremony of the event was held at the wharf of the museum. Mrs Wang Shuyu, Cultural Counsellor of China’s Consulate General in Sydney, Mr Robert Kok, Councillor of Sydney City Council, Ms Daryl Karp, Director and CEO of the Australian National Maritime Museum, Mr Xiao Xiayong, Director of China Cultural Centre and China National Tourist Office in Sydney, and other guests attended the opening ceremony. Mr Xiao Xiayong presented the mascot of the year of the rabbit to guests.
Mrs Wang Shuyu began her speech by wishing everyone a happy Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival on behalf of China’s Consulate General in Sydney. She said that the Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people, and it has become widely celebrated by people from different cultural backgrounds. Celebrating the Spring Festival is not only about celebrating the traditional culture, but also sharing happiness and best wishes with people around you. She stated that “Australia is renowned as a successful multicultural nation. Mutual understanding and appreciation of different cultures among people from different backgrounds are the essence of cultural diversity that makes what Australia is today”. At the conclusion of her speech, Mrs Wang Shuyu wished a brighter and better year for both China and Australia.
Mr Robert Kok said that the Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese Australian. The festival lasts from the first to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month with different customs on each day. He thanked China Cultural Center in Sydney and the Australian National Maritime Museum for hosting this colorful new year celebration, and stated that the event not only helps to promote Chinese culture and art in Australia, but also provides opportunities for Chinese in Australia to learn about traditional Chinese culture. This event will foster friendship and relations between China and Australia.
Ms Daryl Karp expressed her appreciation to China Cultural Center in Sydney for bringing wonderful cultural activities into the Australian National Maritime Museum. She said that the Chinese diaspora are an important part of Australian history and present. The Australian National Maritime museum is always honored to welcome tourists from China to the museum to share cultural heritages. Australia is one of the world’s great migration nations. The story of migration is an important pillar of the museum. The museum has hosted a variety of events to tell the story of migration, and immigration has shaped and will continue to shape Australia. She also stated that the museum is delighted in welcoming diverse cultural experiences to the museum, and that this immerse event planned by China Cultural Centre in Sydney is a wonderful way to promote unique Chinese customs to the Australian people. “I had a quick look around before I came here and I am absolutely sure from what I have seen that our visitors will be delighted at every experience.”
The event was divided into two parts, outdoor performances and indoor exhibitions. Traditional Chinese dances, Chinese traditional instruments Guzheng and Guqin performances, dragon and lion dances, and Chinese singing performances, are the major outdoor performances that attracted large crowd and received enthusiastic applause from the audience. In addition, Sydney Hanfu Association, Yue Yuan Gallery and Decor and Cha is Tea set up exhibition areas with Chinese-style screens, tables and chairs showcasing Hanfu, Suzhou embroidery and tea art. The strong traditional Chinese cultural atmosphere tries to convey the concept of “elegance” of the Chinese culture to the public. Eight workshops, including Chinese painting, calligraphy, Chinese painting on Opera Facial Mask and Chinese painting on folding fan, were completely booked for the two-day event. Through the creation of a brush and ink artwork, the Australian public was able to appreciate and understand the charm of the Chinese traditional art. 2023 Happy New Year of the Rabbit: China Zodiac Design Exhibition curated by both sides of the Taiwan Straits of China was also on display. 20 exhibition boards highlights the achievements of the cross-strait artistic and creative exchanges, which introduces not only the cultural significance of the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac culture, the role of the rabbit in the Chinese history and culture as well as interesting rabbit-related folk legends and fairy tales, but also ten rabbit-related cultural tourism cities and attractions, including the “Lord Rabbit” (Beijing Hutong Cultural Tourism) and “White Rabbit Candy” (Shanghai Time-honored Cultural Tourism) and other tourism resources.
Meanwhile, China Cultural Centre and China National Tourist Office in Sydney promoted Chinese culture and tourism on site by distributing a variety of books and magazines to the visitor. A number of prizes and souvenir were also prepared for visitors who love the Chinese culture, including delicate calendars and mascot for the Year of the Rabbit, “Red Packets”, “Lucky Bags”.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, it is the first time for China Cultural Centre in Sydney to work with the Australian national-level museum to organize Happy Chinese New Year Celebration, which has been highly commended by the partners and the visitors. Around 1,500 locals and tourists attended the event. Media like China Central Television, Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily Online Australia, Southeast Net Australia, and local media such as the Australian Chinese Daily and South World Media have given a extensive publicity about the event.
