23 January 2012 Last updated at 13:53

Chinese New Year: Liverpool parade for Year of the Dragon

Liverpool's Chinatown celebrated the start of Chinese New Year on Sunday with a traditional lion, dragon and unicorn parade through the streets around the city's Chinese arch.

The parade through Liverpool's Chinatown was accompanied by a firecracker display and a Chinese themed street market. Liverpool's Chinese community was established through trading links the city developed as a port in the 19th Century.

Thousands of people took part in the celebrations which this year extended out of Chinatown into the city centre on Bold Street.

The celebrations were centred around Liverpool's Chinese arch. Completed in 2000, the arch was built on site by craftsmen from China with sections shipped from Shanghai. It is the largest arch outside of China.

Liverpool is twinned with Shanghai and the University of Liverpool has recently set up a campus in Suzhou, China, where pupils learn English in courses approved by the university.

Liverpool

Chinese New Year: Liverpool parade for Year of the Dragon

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