While Manchester’s popular annual Chinese New Year celebrations may be on a slightly smaller scale this year due to Covid restrictions, there’s still lots of fun to be had across the city to help bring in the Year of the Tiger.
Taking centre stage for 2022 will be a large-scale tiger art sculpture standing majestically in the city’s St Ann’s Square from 1 – 6 February.
Commissioned by Manchester BID, the installation will be a structural take on the traditional tiger made from wood and recycled corrugated plastic. While the tiger is a symbol of power in Chinese culture and considered to be brave and forceful, the origami-like tiger sculpture will give the ultimate illusion, appearing to be weak and made of paper, but in fact will remain tall and strong for the world to see. The tiger’s inner structure will also playfully match the stripes and markings of a real-life tiger, casting stunning shadows at night with surrounding lights.
On Sunday 6 February, Manchester’s Chinatown will be celebrating the Lunar New Year with a whole host of family-friendly activities including lion dancing, Chinese dancers, street food stalls and Chinese arts and crafts while thousands of traditional red lanterns will once again adorn Chinatown and the city’s key shopping streets from 17 January.
*The Dragon Parade and Fireworks will not be taking place during 2022’s celebrations due to Covid restrictions.
