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Chinese New Year: England welcomes the Year of the Rat

PA Media Dragon in London paradePA Media
London's celebrations began with a parade followed by events in Trafalgar Square

Performers and acrobats, flying dragons and dancing lions have been helping thousands celebrate Chinese New Year.

Events are being held in several city centres in England to welcome the Year of the Rat, which fell on Saturday.

London held what organisers claim was the largest celebrations outside of Asia, while Liverpool's took place in Europe's oldest Chinatown.

Manchester's dragon parade featured a 175ft long (53m) dragon which was accompanied by lion and ribbon dancers.

Up to 30,000 people are expected to attend festivities in Birmingham.

BBC Birmingham eventBBC
Events marking Chinese New Year have been held for the past three days in Birmingham
Getty Images Performer at London paradeGetty Images
Numerous dragons could be spotted in city centres across the country
Reuters Performer at London paradeReuters
A lion dance took place in Trafalgar Square
AFP Dragon in London paradeAFP
The capital claims to hold the biggest Chinese New Year event outside of Asia
Colin Moody Bristol eventColin Moody
Celebrations were held in Wapping Wharf in Bristol
AFP Performer at London paradeAFP
Traditional fan and umbrella dances featured in some celebrations
BBC Parade in LiverpoolBBC
Thousands of spectators gathered in Liverpool's Chinatown
BBC Manchester paradeBBC
Manchester's parade featured a 175ft long (53m) dragon
AFP People wearing masks at London celebrationsAFP
Some people wore facemasks at the celebrations in London
BBC Liverpool celebrationsBBC
Liverpool's lions had to contend with rain
BBC Birmingham eventBBC
Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the 12 animals
Colin Moody Bristol eventColin Moody
Like in many cities, Lions roamed the streets of Bristol
Colin Moody Bristol eventColin Moody
Chinese New Year is also known as Spring Festival and Lunar New Year
AFP Performer at London paradeAFP
Chinese New Year fell on 25 January

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