City of Sydney is delighted to welcome a special delegation from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, to Sydney and the Chinese New Year Festival 2012.
Since 2006, the Festival has welcomed delegations from Beijing, Guangdong, Shaanxi, Henan, Chongqing and Hubei to help Sydney celebrate the Lunar New Year. We thank the Chinese Government and the Ministry of Culture for making these delegations possible as their inclusion in the Festival has helped make the City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival a firm favourite on Sydney’s annual events calendar.
Sichuan in south-west China is renowned for its fiery food, and this delegation will be bringing a taste of Sichuan to our Chinese New Year Markets, along with fabulous performances and floats in the Twilight Parade, and appearances at the Launch, a business forum and a performance in Town Hall.
Chengdu is one of the most important economic, transportation and communication centres in China, and the fertile Chengdu Plain is known as the “Country of Heaven” or “Land of Abundance”.
Today, the industrial base is very broad, including light and heavy manufacturing, aluminium smelting and chemicals. The textile industry is also important, with cotton and wool milling, as well as the traditional manufacturing of silk brocade and satin.
Sichuan province is also home to the giant panda. The panda is a conservation-reliant endangered species, with a diet that is 99 per cent bamboo. While the dragon has historically served as China’s national emblem, the panda has also become an emblem for the country, with its image appearing on many commemorative coins. Don’t miss Chengdu’s giant panda float in the Twilight Parade.
See also The Gala Night of Dynamic Chengdu and the Chengdu-Sydney Business Forum 2012.