"Our hope is for visitors to engage in cultural exchanges through a variety of activities to gain a better understanding of Chinese arts and culture," said Nora Gainer, its director of tourism marketing.

Museums across the United Kingdom will be celebrating Chinese New Year with activities and performances throughout February to welcome the Year of the Pig.

In London, the Science Museum has had a Chinese-themed evening event. The Museum of the Docklands has an area where children can practice ribbon twirling and martial arts and also play traditional percussion instruments. Lion dances will be performed at the front of the museum.

In Greenwich, an art workshop is to be held aboard the Cutty Sark, inspired by the ship's historic travels, and the National Maritime Museum will host children's activities, including lion dancing, arts and storytelling.

In East London at the V&A Museum of Childhood, visitors can explore Chinese crafts and calligraphy and watch live entertainment. Other activities include making Chinese opera masks and costumes and attending calligraphy workshops.

At the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Spring Festival celebrations will begin with performances, stalls, workshops and activities. Stalls will feature elements of Chinese culture, and there will be a Chinese-inspired menu in the cafe and Chinese goods for sale in the shop. Visitors can search for pigs throughout the museum.

Elsewhere, there will be a wide range of activities organized by the National Museums Liverpool, including arts and crafts and lion dances.

Billy Hui, presenter of BBC Radio Merseyside's Orient Express program, will discuss Chinese New Year at the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

Contact the writers at nancykong@chinadailyusa.com