The doors of the City Hall, adorned with traditional lanterns, opened once again for the Chinese community in Portugal to celebrate the arrival of the new year. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, the fifth of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, symbolizing wealth and prosperity, always represented in red.

Everyone attending the event was given a red scarf to wear around their necks. The atrium of the City Hall quickly filled up for the ceremonial event, attended by the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, and the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Portugal, Zhao Bentang.

The procession moved to General Humberto Delgado Square, where the Dragon Dance performance took place, performed by the She-Si School, based in the city, along with three other schools participating in kung fu demonstrations (Lou Hau School, Sheng Kung Hui Choi Kou School, and the School of the Association for Children and Siblings of Farmers).

Chinese Community in Porto Perfectly Integrated

"The Municipality of Porto is fully aware of the historical significance of the relations between Portugal and China. Similarly, we are aware of the social, economic, and cultural relevance of the Chinese community in the city," emphasized the Mayor during the solemn session held in the city hall's grand hall.

Receiving this ceremony for the second consecutive year, Rui Moreira highlighted "multiculturalism" existing in the city, of which the Chinese community is an example, "because it enriches the city with its cultural identity and the diversity of its traditions, arts, customs, and knowledge."

"Chinese immigrants and their descendants are perfectly integrated into our city. But there is still room for greater diffusion of Chinese culture among the people of Porto, as well as for a better understanding of Portuguese culture by Chinese immigrants," he added.