Welcoming the Year of the Snake: Manchester’s Chinatown shines during Lunar New Year celebrations

My Original Version:

Chinatown came alive on Saturday night as Manchester celebrated the Chinese New Year 2025, welcoming the Year of the Snake and showcasing a rich array of Chinese Culture.

In 2025 the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival as it’s known, falls on January 29th, launching a 16-day Spring Festival which saw its main events happening across the city on Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of February.

Transitioning from the lively Year of the Dragon, the Snake symbolises wisdom and transformation, promoting personal growth.

Saturday Night’s Celebrations in Manchester’s Chinatown:

The weekend activities, organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM) saw Chinatown’s carpark transformed on February 1st into a vibrant hub of activity, featuring a bustling food market filled with local vendors offering authentic Chinese delicacies and goods.

The atmosphere was electrified by the decorations adorning the streets and the sounds of traditional music playing throughout, accompanied by the bright lights of the children’s funfair and the dragon show which saw hundreds of eager onlookers huddle around the main stage.

Manchester’s Chinatown, concentrated around Faulkner Street, established in the early 20th century is recognised as the second largest Chinatown in the UK and third largest in Europe.

It’s filled with restaurants, shops and cultural landmarks, including the iconic Paifang archway. Manchester’s Chinese community is one of the largest in the North West, according to the 2021 census, 2.3% of Manchester’s population identifies as Chinese.

Molly Power, 31, from Yorkshire, who ran an Asian food stall at the event expressed her excitement: “We love the Lunar New Year. I think it’s a really magical celebration. We started our street food business when we used to live in Vietnam. We love that side of the world and we love celebrating Lunar New Year.”

Her passion for sharing Vietnamese cuisine highlighted the cultural exchange that characterised the evening.

Julia Yu, a 22-year-old exchange student from the Zhenjiang Province shared her thoughts on the celebrations: “I think it’s a good night and the stalls remind me a lot of those in my hometown in China. Normally, during this time of year, we gather with family, but this year I’m only here with my friend.”

Yu noted that while she had attended other celebrations in London previously, which holds the title of the biggest Chinatown in the UK, they lacked the vibrant market stalls found in Manchester. “This year in Manchester has been the best celebration I’ve experienced in the UK. The atmosphere reminds me of home” she added.

Yuxin Lin, a seller at the markets, originally from Guangzhou, expressed her joy at being part of the festivities. “I’m glad to see that lots of people have come to Chinatown and they enjoy the Chinese New Year with us. I’m very happy to share my culture and to be selling things; that’s my job, I’m selling these hairpins.”

Many market stalls also donated to charities back home:

Saturday night’s events not only honoured traditional customs but also brought together diverse communities in Manchester as part of the wider celebrations.