The first day of festivities took place in Chinatown, Haymarket, and some spillage into the Darling Harbour precinct.
Food stalls were set up the length of the Haymarket and at times people could not move with large queues forming for the epicurean delights available for sale. To exacerbate the problem Chinese lion dancing took place in the Dixon Street mall and the Haymarket.
In the nearby newly completed Exchange Centre Chinese chanteuses performed in front of crowds spinning in between mini towers of coloured globes.
Also in the area Asian urban hip hop and rap dancers engaged in fierce competition to the delight of yet another large audience. There were large queues waiting to enter the Chinese garden of friendship whilst kids climbed on, or posed before, sculpted Chinese lions placed in front of the large square, in front of the Chinese garden.
There will be a further two weeks of celebrations including dragon racing at Darling Harbour and the placement of giant lanterns around Circular Quay, to name but a few highlights of a packed program.
All pics by Ben Apfelbaum
