Heriot-Watt welcomes Chinese New Year

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Heriot-Watt today helped launch a new festival celebrating the Chinese New Year. 

Professor Ian Baxter, Director of the Scottish Confucius Institute for Business & Communication at the university joined the Lord Provost Frank Ross, the Consul General Mr Pan Xinchun and Rob Lang, Chair of Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG) China Ready Initiative to kick-start the festivities. 

Scotland's largest ever celebration of Chinese New Year takes place in Edinburgh from 2 to 17 February 2019. For the first time ever, a co-ordinated programme of special events and initiatives will take place across Scotland's capital as locals and visitors celebrate the Year of the Pig together. 
 
Recognising the steady growth of individual Chinese events in the capital, mostly aimed at the local Chinese community, the ETAG has partnered with Scottish Confucius Institute for Business & Communication at Heriot-Watt University to develop, amplify and broaden the reach of Chinese New Year celebrations in the capital.

We are delighted to be working collaboratively with ETAG to support the tourism sector to become China-ready.

Professor Ian Baxter

Featuring events for all ages across the city Chinese New Year Edinburgh is set to reinforce Edinburgh's position as the UK's most China Friendly destination.

Professor Ian Baxter, Director of the Scottish Confucius Institute for Business & Communication at Heriot-Watt University commented; "We are delighted to be working collaboratively with ETAG to support the tourism sector to become China-ready. This partnership is an important part of our wider activities which build cross-cultural understanding and business links between China and Scotland. Chinese New Year Edinburgh demonstrates the University's commitment to practical business impact in the city, and will also bring new learning and engagement opportunities for the public. I'm particularly pleased also that students studying on Heriot-Watt's postgraduate MSc Tourism and Heritage Management will be closely involved in the practical delivery and evaluation of the festival's success."

Speaking at the launch of Chinese New Year Edinburgh, Lord Provost Frank Ross said; “Chinese New Year Edinburgh is a wonderful opportunity to build on the feel good festival momentum generated at Hogmanay. The rich programme of events will not only give the people of Edinburgh a chance to join in the celebrations and learn more about Chinese culture but also provide a warm welcome to visitors that this festival city has become renowned for.”

Chinese New Year is a celebration of the new year according to the lunar calendar, sharing many similarities with Scotland's own Christmas and Hogmanay traditions. Each year is attributed to an animal from 12 year cycles of the Chinese Zodiac; and on Mon 4 Feb, one in six people across the world will count down to midnight to see in the Year of the Pig, which begins on Tue 5 Feb. 

For more information on what's on visit here.