Lantern Festival celebrated in Australia to promote Chinese culture

With a sword in his hand, Kynan Dencio performed to the music, jumping, turning and slashing, attracting applause from hundreds of audiences.

He was one of the performers at the Lantern Festival celebration on Saturday evening by Lake Burley Griffin in Australian capital Canberra.

The celebration, hosted by the Australia China Friendship Society (ACFS) Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Branch Inc, was believed to be one of the biggest outdoor events in the city ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Carol Keil, president of the ACFS ACT Branch, there were well above 500 audiences. "We have not just Chinese people here. Most of the audiences are non-Chinese," she told Xinhua. "It gives them good opportunity to celebrate the Chinese culture."

Programs included Chinese classical music performance, traditional dances, Tai Chi and martial arts. Local people picnicked with their families on the grass, or filmed the performances with their phones.

Chinese student He Huimeng especially put on a yellow embroidered traditional Chinese dress which she borrowed from a friend.