DUBAI: Visitors at the Mall of the Emirates (MoE) were among the huge number of Chinese expats living in Dubai, who celebrated the New Year of Snake with an array of entertainment activities that captivated them for hours.

The 11-day festival to mark the new Chinese Year of the Snake was started at the mall as school children and professionals demonstrated different skills before the audience at the Central Galleria on Sunday.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Zhan Jingbao, Chinese Consul General in Dubai, the Chinese Women’s Association, among others.

Jingbao received a huge applause from the audience after he delivered his speech in Arabic. He congratulated the Chinese community and others on the New Year as well as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

However, the opening ceremony was also marked by various performances, including the dance performance on a Chinese song by a group of small children attired in colourful red and green dress.

A Chinese performer presented a traditional ‘peacock’ dance while different other performances like martial arts, Chinese Kung fu, Taiji boxing and drum shows also enthralled the audience.

During the 11-day festival, shoppers will have the unique opportunity to experience authentic Chinese culture.

Daily entertainment performances on the Centre Stage have been scheduled from 3pm to 9pm, including Chinese folk dance, drum show, calligraphy and others.