Chicago holds celebration to attract more Chinese tourists

Chicago will for the first time host a Chinese New Year celebration in an effort to attract more Chinese tourists, the city government of Chicago said Thursday.

The 15-day celebration, running from Jan. 31 to Feb. 14, will feature cultural performances and fireworks displays to mark "the Year of Horse" according to the Chinese lunar calendar, which starts on Jan. 31.

Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel told Xinhua Thursday that he hoped Chinese tourists could "feel welcome and at home coming to Chicago", adding that the tourists "could do tremendous shopping in a very small space. Everything you can get in New York, you can get here in Chicago."

Chicago will "start advertising (Chicago) restaurants, shopping, sports, and other great cultural identities" in China through its three offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Emanuel said.

He said that Chicago has one of the largest China towns in North America, which is a rich part of the city's history.

He aimed to make the celebration an annual event until it becomes "the largest Chinese New Year celebration of any city in North America."

He believed that as more Chinese tourists come to Chicago, they would help facilitate economic and cultural exchanges between the people of Chicago and the people of China.