Chinese festival celebrates Australia-Chinese connection in small town

YOUNG, Australia, March 30 (Xinhua) -- In spite of shower, hail and frigidity, lion dancing and red lanterns made Young, in the heart of Hilltops Region, a festive town on Saturday.

The Lambing Flat CHINESE Festival was kicked off Saturday afternoon, when multicultural events were held to celebrate the contribution of CHINESE to Australia.

"We are happy to say that our community welcomes thousands of CHINESE people and visitors from all over the world," said Brian Ingram, mayor of Hilltops.

"Australia has benefited enormously from CHINESE immigration, and the purpose of this festival is to showcase and to value this... We look forward to our future relationship with China of great potential."

Xu Jing, media counselor with the Embassy of China in Australia, attended the opening ceremony after visiting local museum telling Young's historical connection with CHINESE people and the CHINESE tribute gardens which are soon to be renovated.

"The relations between Young and China are moving fast," she said. "Last year local cherries made their first ferry to the CHINESE market."

Young, famed for its cherries, boasts strong connection with China where CHINESE migrants worked in the mines in the mid-1860s.

The Lambing Flat Festival is an annual heritage event which began in 2004. It was renamed as the Lambing Flat CHINESE Festival in 2013.

At the festival people could also enjoy sunset lantern parade and traditional CHINESE music performances, buy artwork from the craft and artisan markets and taste dishes at the CHINESE food stalls. Enditem