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Latin American countries have enthusiastically embraced the Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb. 8 this year, with dance and music performances, some of them by acclaimed Chinese troupes.
From Mexico in the north to Argentina on the southernmost tip of the continent, Latin American countries have organized Chinese-style performances, including the renowned musical stage show "My Dream," which have been welcomed by both Chinese and local people.
Mexico wowed by chinese stage show
Throughout the past week, the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee for the Asia-Pacific region in Mexico co-hosted, with the Chinese Embassy, workshops on Chinese films, performing arts, language and customs.
"Culture has been an important factor in forging close ties. The Mexican culture, from art to cuisine, has been deeply influnced by our good friend, China," said Senator Teofilo Torres, the committee's president.
China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe (CDPPAT) performed its show "My Dream" at Mexico City's landmark Esperanza Iris Theater on Thursday and Friday nights, as an important part of the Chinese Culture Week starting from Monday to celebrate both the Chinese New Year and the 44th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The world-famous show, by dancers and singers whose sight or hearing is impaired, attracted a large number of Chinese and Mexican people with its complicated musical elements, delicate choreography, dazzling sets and costumes and poignant stories.
"The Dance of a Thousand Hands," performed by 21 dancers with 42 hands, which represent a thousand hands in Buddhism, won a standing ovation.
Visually impaired singer Liu Tao sang "Mexico Lindo y Querido," the country's unofficial anthem, leaving the audience profoundly moved.
The award-winning troupe stages some 150 shows in more than 10 countries each year, and donates much of its earnings to charity. It has raised more than 9 million yuan (1.4 million U.S. dollars) in the past three years for Chinese state-run charities and over 80 thousand U.S. dollars for international charities for the disabled.
The Chinese Embassy's cultural attache Zhuang Lixiao said 70 percent of the ticket sales from Friday's performance were used to help Mexican disabled people.
Venezuela excited by "my dream"
"My Dream" thrilled viewers at the Teresa Carreno Theater in Venezuela's capital Caracas in late January.
This time Liu received strong applause for singing "Alma Llanera" (Soul of the Plains), Venezuela's unofficial anthem.
Sharing the stage with the CDPPAT was the children's choir from Venezuela's Mevorah Florentin Special Education School, reflecting the strong bond between the two nations.
"The two countries maintain an excellent bilateral relationship in all fields -- from politics, economy to social and cultural life," said China's Ambassador to Venezuela Zhao Bentang.
"Venezuela has become a strength that can exchange cultures, traditions and ways of living with China," said Venezuela's Culture Minister Freddy Nanez.
Other cultural events were also very popular, such as a photo exhibition of Beijing, a Chinese film festival for children and a series of Chinese films and documentaries airing on state TV channels.
Costa rica's lion dance
In Costa Rica's capital San Jose, a traditional Chinese Lion Dance, organized by the Chinese Association of Costa Rica, kicked off on Thursday night.
Li Liman, the association's president, highlighted the two countries' long history of friendship, noting that her group was founded 110 years ago, and that the Chinese first came to the Central American country 160 years ago.
Song Yanbin, China's ambassador to Costa Rica, said he hoped to see expanded ties of cooperation in 2016.
Taste chinese cuisine in argentina
In Argentina's capital Buenos Aires, China's Ambassador Yang Wanming greeted top officials on Saturday, including Argentina's Vice President Gabriela Michetti and Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta at the National Parks plaza to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
The celebration, which used to take place at the city's famed China Town, has grown so popular that it had to be moved to a larger venue this year.
In 2011, some 15,000 people attended the celebration. By 2014, that number had soared to 450,000. This year, more fans of Chinese culture are expected to attend.
This weekend's open-air event featured Chinese music and dance, traditional opera, puppetry, martial arts and cuisine.
"It's a millennial tradition that we all celebrate," the city's Secretary of Sports Matias Lopez said.
One particularly popular stand called "Guidolab" served "molecular ice cream."
"They're delicious, I chose ginger cream," Yamila Dlugue, a local resident who was there with her mother and a friend, told Xinhua.
Each Chinese lunar year has one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac as its "mascot" and 2016 is the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal sign in the zodiac, following the goat and preceding the rooster.
