To properly celebrate the Chinese New Year!

Starting this weekend, we will be celebrating the Chinese New Year in France and the beginning of the year of the Water Dragon, the most revered animal in Chinese mythology.

I suggest you make the most of it with a little selection of my top tips in Paris and the Parisian suburbs.

In the 13th arrondissement:

• The famous Chinese New Year parade will take place this year on January 29, 2012, starting at 1:00 PM in the 13th arrondissement. The route is expected to follow previous years: departure 44 avenue d’Ivry; avenue de Choisy; place d’Italie; avenue d’Italie; rue de Tolbiac; avenue de Choisy; boulevard Masséna; return to avenue d’Ivry.
• A market with typical products from the Chinese quarter will be set up on the square in front of the 13th arrondissement Town Hall from Saturday, January 14 to Sunday, January 29, 2012.
• A gathering featuring some of the greatest French composers (Chopin, Debussy, Ravel…) and traditional Chinese melodies with an exceptional concert by pianists Ying Zhang, Marc Vitantonio, Ye Jun, and Till Oelkers on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 4:00 PM at the 13th arrondissement Town Hall ballroom.

http://www.mairie13.paris.fr/

In the Marais:

• Makeup, mask, and origami workshops offered at the 3rd arrondissement school leisure centers by the Pierre Ducerf Franco-Chinese association on Wednesday, January 25, 2012.
• The screening of two exceptional documentaries by young Chinese filmmakers on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 6:30 PM.
• Well-wishes from the Chinese community and the Lion Dance on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 6:30 PM.
• A concert of Buddhist singing bowls and Asian gongs by Alain Kremski at the Bourse du Travail (29, boulevard du Temple) on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 7:00 PM.
• The traditional costumed parade in the streets of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements on Saturday, January 28, 2012 starting at 2:30 PM at the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville (Paris 4th).

http://www.mairie3.paris.fr/

In Noisy-le-Grand (93):

• Lion dance initiation, Yvris school group (temporary premises of the MPT des Richardets), avenue du Bois Saint-Martin on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
• Lion dance initiation, Yvris school group (temporary premises of the MPT des Richardets), avenue du Bois Saint-Martin on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
• Culinary workshops, making Chinese dumplings and tasting them on-site (2 groups of 10 people), free upon reservation with MPT Pottier at 01 43 05 49 11 at the Maison pour tous Eugène-Pottier, 111 piazza Mont d’Est, on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM.
• Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, and Mongolian music concert, along with Western classical music inspired by the Asian world, performed by violin and viola students at the Maurice-Baquet Conservatory, Jean-Constantin hall, 1 place Gallieni on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 6:00 PM.
• Activities on the Place de la Libération including calligraphy workshops, dragon masks, and origami, a Tourist Office stand to find travel ideas for Asian countries, and an inflatable structure on Sunday, February 5, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Parade on the Place de la Libération on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 4:00 PM.

http://www.noisylegrand.fr/