news
Thousand Chinese begin the Year in New York
By Kelly Chung Dawson (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-02-18 09:34
 |
Large Medium Small |
For around a thousand Chinese tourists, New Year's celebrations were a foreign affair this year. As part of the self-proclaimed "Thousand Gather in New York" travel party that arrived in more than 20 smaller groups from all over China this week, some passed New Year's with little fanfare. Others counted down on a boat cruise around Manhattan.
|
 Consul General Peng Keyu pulls the lever at the Empire State Building lighting ceremony to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year February 17, 2010. |
"It was daytime here, but in our country it was midnight," said Liao Zhongkai, a tourist from Shanghai. "We were very proud. We feel that Chinese people are strong, and we are happy to represent China here."
The trip was organized by Galaxy Tours, a travel agency based in Flushing, Queens, in cooperation with several Chinese agencies, the New York Tourism Authority, and Continental Airlines.
On Tuesday, around half of the group (many were still en route to New York from other first-stop US locales, delayed by wintery weather) gathered at the China Consulate near Times Square to hear remarks by various government officials and industry figures.
Bruce Bommarito, Chief Operating Officer of the Travel Industry Association, began his remarks in halting Chinese, wishing all a happy new year before jokingly apologizing for his language efforts. Audience members laughed approvingly, milling around the large banquet hall as heavy snow fell on the consulate garden, visible through large windows.
Last year over 1 million people traveled from the US to China, and despite H1N1, the number of travelers from China to the US grew to over 600,000, Bommarito said.
"Travel to each other's countries is a great way to make friends," he said to the gathered crowd. "The US, like China, is a very big country, so we hope that you'll come many times and see many different parts of it."
Consul General Peng Keyu spoke about US-China relations, and the consulate's diplomatic work. He also reminded the group to abide by US laws and customs, citing an admittedly rarely enforced law against eating on the subway in New York.
The tourists were eager to see more of the city, with many listing various landmarks from popular movies and televison shows as must-see priorities. Like most of the group, Liao Zhongkai took advantage of holiday vacation time to see a new place, take in well-known sights, and of course, do some serious shopping.
"Because a lot of Chinese people now have more money than before, we like to spend that money," he said. "New York is a gathering place for famous brands." The group planned to take a day trip to visit Woodbury Outlet mall outside the city this week. Liao joked that customs agents might think they were businessmen, with all the brand-name products they planned to take home.
Others said the trip would not be enough time to accomplish everything, and were already planning a return trip in the future.
Later that evening, Peng spoke again at a Lunar New Year ceremony at the Empire State Building, during which he pulled a lever to light the tower in red and yellow. The tourists streamed in to and around the lobby as he spoke, waiting to travel up through the building to see the famous landmark lit up in honor of the Chinese holiday.
"The Spring Festival lighting on the Empire State Building is regarded as not only a recognition of the Chinese community's contribution to the country and society, but also a light illuminating intercultural understanding and respect," Peng said before the crowd.
He went on to express hopes that American tourists might visit Shanghai for the World Expo this summer.
Jean-Yves Ghazi, Director of the Observatory at the Empire State Building, said in an interview with China Daily, "We are lighting the Empire State Building red and yellow to spread our wishes for happines and good fortune to everyone this year."
Peng pointed to the tiger's connotations of strength and health as an auspicious sign.
Later, in an interview with China Daily, Peng stressed the importance of Sino-US relations, calling it one of the most important relationships in the world.
"The number one thing is mutual understanding," he said. "The goal is two peoples getting to know each other, learning about their histories, backgrounds, and customs. This is the most important goal of this trip, to try and promote this better understanding between China and the US."
