1.He Wei (center), Chinese Consul General in Toronto, is joined on Thursday by Jim Diodati (left), the mayor of the City of Niagara Falls and Janice Thomson, chair of the Niagara Falls Illumination Board &Niagara Parks Commission, launch the crystal ball illuminating Niagara Falls in red in celebration of the Chinese New Year and 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism. [Photo/China Daily]

"We light up one of the greatest natural wonders of the world in color today, it's significant for the Year of Canada-China Tourism as well as the Chinese New Year," he said.

The mayor said the falls have seen increased visits by Chinese each year since 2009 when Canada was granted approved destination status by China. China is the third-largest international market for visitors to Canada, behind the US and the UK. Tourism Minister Bardish Chagger said the goal is to double the number of Chinese visiting Canada by 2022.

"We welcome all of Chinese friends. I believe there will be more Chinese visitors than usual this year. I have put Niagara Falls on the list where they will come to in 2018. We are waiting for you when you get here," he said.

Canadian National (CN) Tower, the third-tallest tower in the world, also was lit up in red -- which to Chinese means happy, lucky and prosperous -- to celebrate the Chinese lunar New Year in Toronto. It was the fourth year that has been done since it was started in 2015.