About 2500 people packed into Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden on Saturday night, celebrating the new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.
Performances showcased traditional dance and music, including lion and dragon dances, while people flocked to food stalls.
Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden Trust chairman Malcolm Wong said the celebrations were an excellent start to the new year.
"By and large it was a great event.
"It bodes well for the future ... quite happy about it all really."
He thanked the performers for their contribution, especially the children who donned lion costumes.
"Great effort by the lion dancers — they’re just fantastic the little lions."
The whole community pitched in to mark the new year — karakia opened and closed the event.
"It’s not just Chinese who are performers, there are friends as well.
"It’s great to see the whole community pitching in.
"A nice presence from mana whenua."
The fireworks were a crowd pleaser and he was happy to say the weather played its part.
"Very glad that there was no fire ban and there was no wind."
Celebrations continued yesterday, as Chinese dragons and lion dancers paraded along George St and through shopping malls.
This year’s Chinese New Year celebrations were part of an expanded cultural festival that wraps up this Sunday.
The festival, from January 26 to February 9, celebrates Dunedin’s long-standing Chinese connections.
It comes as the city celebrated the 30th anniversary of its sister-city relationship with Shanghai several months ago.
Dunedin destination manager Sian Sutton called the weekend’s events a "cultural feast".
A range of tourism operators were offering specialist tours that celebrated Dunedin’s Chinese history.
Many were offering Mandarin speaking guides.
"We’re really pleased to see everyone pull together for this first year.
"Our Chinese heritage is an important part of our city’s history.
"We hope to see this event continue to grow in partnership with our Chinese community."
