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Welcome to China town...
By This is London 19.02.07An estimated 275,000 people welcomed in the Year of the Pig in Trafalgar Square on Saturday but don't worry if you missed the celebrations as the festivities continue all week in the capital. Here's a round-up of some of the best Chinese New Year events...
The British Museum is hosting a week of free Chinese-themed half-term events. Visitors can discover their animal sign in the Chinese Zodiac, help create a Chinese dragon and make their own money bag or Chinese lantern.
British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B. 19 to 23 February, 11am to 4pm. Admission free. Tel: 020 7323 8000 or visit www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
The Chinese State Circus arrives at the Hackney Empire on 20 February with an action-packed production featuring contortionists, martial arts warriors and singers from the Peking Opera.
Acrobats will be performing back-flips through rotating hoops and tossing terracotta jars from head to head and there will be Chinese pole balancing displays and an energetic performance of the Lion Dance before the Shaolin Wu-Shu Warriors put their skills to the test.
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8. Tel: 020 8985 2424 or visit www.hackneyempire.co.uk
The Museum in Docklands' Chinese New Year Festival features Chinese dance, costumes, film, music and calligraphy.
Tibetan, Mongolian or Xinxiang costumes will be on display and visitors will be shown how to write their name in Chinese calligraphy or test their skills with the game of Wei Qi, said to be the world's greatest game of strategy.
There will also be a traditional Lion dance as well as a variety show of Chinese acrobatics, music and dance.
Chinese New Year Festival, Museum in Docklands, No.1 Warehouse, E14. Tel: 0870 444 3857or visit www.museumindocklands.org.uk
The National Maritime Museum will be holding its final free Chinese calligraphy workshop on 25 February during which visitors can find out about the Chinese calendar and be inspired to make their own calligraphy painting.
National Maritime Museum, Park Row, Greenwich. SE10. 25 February. Tel: 020 8312 6632 or visit www.nmm.ac.uk
The Natural History Museum will also be introducing children to the animals of the Chinese zodiac with free talks by a Chinese storyteller and her dragon friend.
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7. Tel: 020 7942 5000 or visit www.nhm.co.uk
Charing Cross Library holds one of the largest collections of Chinese materials in UK Public libraries and it will be celebrating Chinese New Year on 20 February with an introduction to Chinese food with free cookery demonstrations and food sampling.
Charing Cross Library, 4 Charing Cross Road, WC2. 20 February, 2pm to 4pm. Tel: 020 7641 1300 or visit www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries
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