Sydney launches red hot start to Chinese New Year

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is lit in auspicious red amid fireworks displays. [Photo courtesy of Sydney City Council]

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, decked out in auspicious red and a glowing eight-meter-tall guard dog, unleashed the start of the biggest celebrations of the Lunar New Year outside Asia on Friday evening.

Sydney has officially welcomed the Year of the Dog, launching the city's 22nd Chinese New Year Festival in spectacular style.

An eight-meter-tall animated dog lantern at the Sydney Opera House, designed by Chinese Australian artist Song Ling [Photo: China Plus Zhang Qizhi]

A traditional lion dance and eye-dotting ceremony below the giant, animated dog lantern at the Sydney Opera House kicked off activities around the harbour foreshore.

Thousands of visitors enjoyed the festival atmosphere with the 12 glowing zodiac animals of the Lunar Lanterns exhibition, an illuminated harbour bridge and a fireworks display.

Lion dance is performaned at the opening ceremony. [Photo: China Plus/Zhang Qizhi]

The festival's hero dog lantern, designed by Chinese-Australian artist Song Ling, sat proudly at the side of the Sydney Opera House. The masterpiece was created by 18 skilled craftsmen and five seamstresses, using five tons of steel, 90 lights and more than 200 meters of fabric. 

More than 80 related events will celebrate the Lunar New Year, from a traditional tea ceremony at the Art Gallery of New South Wales  and congee breakfasts in Chinatown to art exhibitions and a Chinese opera performance. There will also be a dragon-boat race, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere with more than 3,000 paddlers participating. 

A horse-shaped lantern, one of the 12 zodiac animal lanterns, is on display. [Photo: China Plus/Zhang Qizhi]

The festival runs through March 4.