|
|
|
| March 2000: A new land mark - Chinatown Archway |
 |
| |
| Liverpool Chinese Arch Commemoration
and Opening Ceremony |
| Liverpool Chinese arch commemoration and opening ceremony was held
on 30th March 2000, which was organised by Liverpool Rope Walks Partnership
in conjunction with Liverpool Chinese Community. The event took place
in front of the new Chinatown Archway and Square on Nelson Street. |
| The activities of the ceremony included lion dancing, a Fen Shui
ceremony and firecracker display. Hundreds of people including the
VIP guests gathered to watch the ceremony. |
| The 44ft-high arch is the largest Chinese archway in Britain, which
is painted with 200 dragons. |
| The Lord Mayor of Liverpool Joe Devaney, leader of Liverpool City
Council Mike Storey, and Chairman of the LCBA Mr. Wai Sang Wong spoke
at the ceremony. The Lord Mayor Joe Devaney said that the arch would
attract thousands of visitors to the oldest Chinatown in Europe, it
would promote business in Chinatown, it is a symbol of prosperity
and friendship. The arch has a great connection with Liverpool's sister
city Shanghai. The building material for the arch was imported from
Shanghai, and the arch was constructed by craftsmen who flew over
from Shanghai. Mr. Wai Sang Wong expressed the heartfelt thanks on
behalf of the Liverpool Chinese community to the organisations supported
the arch project, which included Liverpool City Council, Liverpool
Rope Walks Partnership, Liverpool Chamber of Commence & Industry,
and University of Liverpool. The Lord Mayor, Cllr. Mike Storey, Consul-general
Yaoxiang Wang of the Chinese Consulate -general in Manchester, Chairman
of Liverpool China Committee David Tinsley, Chairman of Liverpool
Rope Walks Partnership Counsellor Beatrice Franekel cut the red ribbon
before the VIPs paraded through the new archway. |
| The arch is the first major project to be completed in the Liverpool
Rope Walks Partnership area. |
| Regeneration of Liverpool Chinatown has completed its first phase
at last, the second phase will include moving Chinese artefacts from
the former International Garden Festival site at Otterspool to Chinatown.
Building a new underground station in Chinatown has also been proposed.
|
|
