Prague, Feb 7 (CTK) – Thousands of people visited the two-day celebrations of the Chinese New Year held at the exhibition grounds in Prague and finished with a firework late in the afternoon on Sunday.
Artistic groups from Beijing and the Hebei province performed within the main programme.
Crowds of people, mainly families with small children, flocked to the exhibition grounds in the Holesovice neighbourhood to see the programme.
There were shows of Chinese cinematography, arts and crafts as well as traditional Chinese and also Czech cuisine.
The Czech Republic joined the 140 countries that held the celebrations in their capitals.
The guests at the function included Prague Mayor Adriana Krnacova (ANO), ambassador of China Ma Keqing and Regional Development Minister Karla Slechtova (ANO).
“We must understand Chinese culture and vice versa,” Slechtova said, adding that Chinese tourists’ interest in visiting the Czech Republic had increased by 40 percent in a year.
The event was organised by the Mixed Czech-Chinese Cooperation Chamber along with the embassy of China and the company SAGL Production.
The celebrations of the Chinese New Year were held for the first time in Prague in its Old Town Square last year.
This year, the Chinese New Year begins on February 8. The year of the monkey will last until January 27, 2017.