Shandong Presents Chinese Culture at
2014 Times Square New Year's Eve Countdown Celebration
The eastern culture of China’s Shandong Province met the western culture of new year's eve celebration as the Sino-American Friendship Association (SAFA) co-hosted the opening ceremony of 2014 Time Square New Year's Eve Countdown Celebration and presented Confucianism and Shandong Culture on Dec. 31st, 2013.
The event got underway at 6:03 p.m. sharp at Duffy Square as the sparkling ball ascended the flag pole for its midnight descent. With Chinese immigrants now placed as the second largest foreign born group in New York City, it was little wonder that SAFA would present Confucianism and Shandong Culture for the first time in the event’s history. Shandong was the first and the only Chinese province to be invited onto the stage representing China at 2014 Times Square New Year Countdown Celebration.
Li Li, President of CIMG and Executive Vice President SAFA
co-hosting the Opening Ceremony with Renowned Hostess, Allison Hagendorf;
Chinese Ambassador Sun, Guoxiang sharing his holiday greetings
with over a million people in TSQ during the Countdown Opening Ceremony
Shandong is the hometown of Confucius. When people talk about Shandong, they always say, to learn about China, start with Confucius; to learn about Confucius, start with Shandong. Shandong also owns two World Natural and Cultural Heritage Records, Mountain Tai and the Confucius Temple. “Ren” and “Yi” in Chinese represent “Benevolence” and “morality,” which are the core values of Confucianism and the main characteristics of people from Shandong.
Shandong culture was presented through a Kungfu performance and a local blend of Chinese music with a hat dance. Complimentary red scarves, symbolizing the friendship between the U.S. and China, were distributed to those in attendance.
Kungfu performance
Left：Hat dance with traditional music from Shandong by NY dancers;
Right："Confucius" wisdom represent "benevolence" and "morality" of Shandong at the Opening Ceremony
Honorary attendees open up a banner on stage: Shandong China, Hometown of Confucius
Video greetings from Shandong broadcasting live on Toshiba giant screen
under the New Year’s Eve ball during the opening ceremony
Excited crowed warmly welcoming honorary guests wearing red scarves distributed by
SAFA with the words “Friendly Shandong”
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