London welcomes year of the rat

10th February 2008 marks Chinese New Year, and this year’s celebrations both in London and China are set to be bigger and better than ever. ‘China in London’ will celebrate Chinese art, heritage and culture, with performances and exhibitions held at venues throughout the city.

The event, set to be the largest London-wide festival of Chinese arts and culture ever staged, marks the beginning of preparations for the Beijing Olympics in August and the following handover to London, which will host the Games in 2012.

The China in London season kicks off on February 6 with the annual lighting up of Chinese lanterns at Oxford Circus, followed by Chinese New Year celebrations in central London on February 10 to welcome the Year of the Rat.

Amongst the highlights will be performances by visiting artists from Beijing, a Beijing art exhibition and a Chinese film season, with screenings of Chinese film held at Arts cinemas nationwide. Regular events will continue until the Olympic Torch Relay on April 6, when the Olympic flame comes to London as it travels around the world on its way to Beijing for the start of the Games.

Visitor numbers to China have grown significantly in recent years, and Far East specialist Cox & Kings recommends booking early. The company’s Far East Product Manager, Robin Ball, says: “China is really taking off as a tourist destination, with its thriving economy and developments in place for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Such has been the dramatic pace of development in China that visitors are now equally drawn to its spectacular modern architecture, including the new Olympic sites, as they are by the traditional attractions such as the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors.”

Cox & Kings’ 13-night group tour China: The Grand Tour combines a stay in Beijing’s historic Raffles Hotel with the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, the Great Wall of China, Shanghai, Guilin and Hangzhou plus a three-night Yangtze cruise. From £2,695 per person including flights with British Airways, accommodation with breakfast and some additional meals, transfers and all excursions.

For more information visit coxandkings.com.