SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Saturday launched official celebrations of Chinese Lunar New Year in the city's Chinatown.
Breed urged locals and global tourists to support small Chinese businesses and share the joys of the traditional Chinese Year of the Rat, which begins on Jan. 25.
"Today is just an opportunity with this particular fair to kick off a chance for visitors and people who come from all over the world to shop, to eat and to enjoy the festivities," said Breed.
She said she was "proud" to kick off the celebrations of the Lunar New Year marked by the first day of a Chinatown Spring Festival Market Fair, an annual traditional event that drew thousands of people to buy small gifts, good-luck new year items, potted flowers and tangerines that signify prosperity and fortune in traditional Chinese culture.
Breed gave special note to the historic significance of the year when San Francisco and the Chinese city of Shanghai will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their sister-city relationships.
Breed was joined by San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, California State Senator Scott Wiener and community leaders to participate in a mini-parade that started at historic St. Mary's Square in Chinatown and marched through several main streets.
Hundreds of young people dressed in ancient Chinese-style costumes and performed as lion dancers, as drummers danced merrily to share their festival joy with onlookers.
