LONDON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The rhythmic beat of the Ansai waist drum, a traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage, echoed through London on Saturday, bringing a burst of festive energy to the city's Chinese New Year celebrations.
The vibrant performance, originating from Shaanxi Province in northwest China and attracting a large crowd of spectators, was staged as part of Chinese New Year celebrations in the British capital's Burlington Arcade.
Drums and energetic dancing drew shoppers and visitors to the arcade, with many stopping to watch and film the spectacle.
Zhang Mingchen, a Chinese national living in Britain, described the performance as particularly moving. He said that he felt proud to see Chinese culture reaching more people worldwide.
Jing Wei, founder of UK Sunshine Digital, which specialises in UK-China intercultural communications, told Xinhua that as Chinese culture reaches wider audiences worldwide, the Chinese New Year is now celebrated in more countries and cities.
She said that the festivities not only bring together the local Chinese community, but also attract growing interest from people of different cultural backgrounds.
Trupti Shah, commercial director of Burlington Arcade, welcomed the visiting artists, saying the Arcade was pleased to host the Ansai waist drum performance to celebrate one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture.
Opened in 1819, Burlington Arcade is one of Britain's earliest shopping arcades and is recognized as part of the country's cultural heritage. ■