Discover Ireland and all its delights in Chaoyang Park

This year's Chaoyang International Spring Carnival will be providing visitors with a colorful mini-tour of Ireland, in Beijing’s Chaoyang Park, Feb 10 to 15, which will be festively decorated in both a Chinese and Irish way.

Because Ireland is the "country of honor" this year, there will be some wonderful examples of that lovely country’s delicious food, delicate finery, and artistic performances on offer. For example, the Macnas, a troupe of street performers, will move through the park, interacting with the audience.

The Macnas

And Jig, a dance group, will be on hand to provide a comprehensive package of song and dance, in an exciting half-hour performance, perhaps the best representation of traditional Irish culture.

There will also be artists from the Netherlands, Australia, Greece, and Russia who have been invited to perform for the 6-day event, including the Petersburg Souvenir, a folk-dance group from Russia, the Polymorfi Hellenic Folk Group, from Greece, to take you on an even more exotic journey.

The Polymorfi Hellenic Folk Group

The Petersburg Souvenir

The carnival was first held in 2002 and, over time, has developed its own unique style through innovation. This year, the 11th, it plans to be more interactive and interesting. And, since the fifth day of the event coincides with Valentine’s Day in Western countries, there will naturally be a kissing competition for the special occasion.

This is not just a visual feast, but an auditory one as well, as can be seen at the "Voice of the carnival", a singing contest that gives any young people, with dreams of showing their talent in public, the opportunity to use song as their means.

The Chaoyang carnival is one of Beijing’s most appealing "temple" fairs, and for the past 10 years, it has given both locals and visitors from afar a place for cultural exchanges of the host city with other global cities.

Declan Kelleher, Ireland’s ambassador to China, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, in Beijing, explained further, "Such kinds of cultural events will also be hosted in other Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Hong Kong and Chengdu."

"And the exchange will cover art, tourism, literature, a very wide range, since the Ireland-China friendship has been getting stronger," Kelleher told China Daily, while wishing the carnival every success and all visitors an excellent experience in both Chinese and Irish traditions.