LOS ANGELES - While scores of little white Christmas lights still twinkled along the streets of Beverly Hills on Friday night, the affluent Southern California city was embracing another holiday tradition: Chinese Lunar New Year.

In the gilt-trimmed lobby of Beverly Hills' historic Saban Theater, gold-tasseled red lanterns, emblematic of Chinese New Year, swayed above the capacity crowd that had gathered to experience a taste of one of China's most important holidays.

"The best thing about this event is that it allows us to bring China's wonderful culture and traditions to Beverly Hills," said Julie Wagner, event chairwoman of the Beverly Hills Club.

"It gives Beverly Hills residents a feel for what the Chinese are all about and of the beauty, history, art, and culture they have to share with us," she said.

For the last eight years, Beverly Hills has been honoring the Chinese New Year by hosting a special VIP celebration that's grown in scope and popularity every year. Last year, the demand for tickets was so great, the event was expanded to two days to accommodate the more than 1,000 attendees.

John Mirisch, the former mayor and now vice-mayor of Beverly Hills, said his city enjoys a great relationship with China.

"We welcome the Chinese, and think sharing some of their interesting cultural experiences with American audiences right here in Beverly Hills makes us understand and appreciate each other more," he said with a smile.

Alan and Sandy Kroll, two local residents in their 70s, who visited China many years ago, said: "We live in Beverly Hills and came out to support our community and revisit China."

Since 2014, Beverly Hills has shared a close relationship with Beijing, and that relationship has grown to include Tianjin, the neighboring municipality, and Hebei, the surrounding province.

This year's Beverly Hills Chinese New Year was titled, "Charming Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei" in honor of the deepening ties between Beverly Hills and their Chinese co-sponsors, and included a photo exhibit from the three interconnected regions, plus demonstrations of delicate Chinese paper-cutting techniques and the ancient art of calligraphy.

The show itself featured a festive line up of traditional Chinese folk-dances, musical acts, Peking Opera, tai chi and martial arts performances. Relationships with prominent Chinese cultural organizations enabled the hosts to access top Chinese talent for the event.

Through the support of the Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Associations for Cultural Exchange, the evening featured a stellar line up of Chinese artists, including vocalists Shan Dai and Yin Zhuojin, the Hebei Acrobatic Troupe, the Beijing Dance Troupe and the Girls Crystal Band.

Volunteers from the audience were invited on stage to learn a simple martial arts move from the master, to the great amusement of the audience.

One of the volunteers said: "What a great night. Who ever thought I'd be on stage in such an amazing ceremony, holding swords. I never had so much fun."

Xinhua

(China Daily 01/29/2019 page10)