Watch: Birmingham celebrates Lunar New Year in the city centre as the Year of the Rabbit begins

Dragon dancing, live music and street food were among the entertainment at the Lunar New Year celebrations in Birmingham City Centre as the Year of the Rabbit got underway.

It was the first time the celebrations had been held in three years with the pandemic putting a halt on the event which was last been put on in January 2020.

People gathered in China Town, Hippodrome Square in Southside and at the Bullring & Grand Central to mark the special occasion. The official New Year’s Day is January 22 and it’s one of the biggest holidays in China and other East Asian countries.

Community performances, street food, face painting, fairground rides and family activities kept the crowds entertained for the day.

Choy lee fut UK, the Midlands based chinese lion and dragon dance team, performed a dragon dance making the kids go wow. Dragon dance is part of traditional celebration of Lunar New Year in China.

People lined up outside restaurants in the Chinese Quarter to enjoy a hot meal despite the frosty weather. The celebrations in the Hippodrome Square continued from the ones taking place elsewhere the day before.

Pom Pom, the panda, charmed children and adults alike during the day full of rides, food, music and dance. People also visited the craft stalls on Hurst Street and Inge Street to pick up knick knacks.

The pandemic years had deprived Birmingham of this lovely occasion and it’s finally back - and once more again set to be an annual fixture in the multicultural city.

Kung Hei Fat Choy everyone!