Chinese New Year at Darling Harbour

Chinese New Year celebrations will take centre stage at Darling Harbour's Chinese Garden of Friendship, where an exciting two-week festival of traditional Chinese art, food and performance will be demonstrated in addition to hands-on workshops and tours, from February 13 - March 1 (inclusive).

Martial arts will feature on February 13 with the award-winning Australian Yau Kung Mun Martial Arts Association to showcase their acrobatic skills with a traditional Chinese lion dance.

The grace and beauty of the fan dance will be demonstrated by Fiona Maiyin Thockloth on Saturday February 14, 21 and 28 from 12.30-12.45pm.

From 7pm-11pm on February 14, a spectacular one-night only Twilight Garden Party will take over the picturesque Chinese Garden in partnership with 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Enjoy exclusive live art performances - including the creation of a large scale calligraphy work with food - by the internationally-acclaimed Yangjiang Group. Tickets are $45 each and include a cocktail upon arrival and a seven course tasting menu designed by Grasshopper Eating House and Bar.

The Australian Chinese Brush Painting Society and Chinese artist Lan Jian will run workshops and demonstrations on February 22. Then on February 28, a hands-on workshop of the ancient art of Penjing (Chinese art form of creating miniature landscapes) will take place.

Darling Harbour visitors can experience the harmony of yin and yang at the Chinese Garden of Friendship's FREE open day on 1 March.

Other FREE attractions at the Chinese Garden of Friendship every day of the two-weeks include a Kids@theArthouse display inspired by the Chinese lunar calendar, zodiac adventures, traditional Chinese story-telling, koi fish feeding and much more.

Festivities continue in Darling Harbour with FREE daily dragon boat races in Cockle Bay, the Twilight Chinese New Year Parade and fireworks display until midnight on February 22, and the Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival from February 19-22 where thousands of hand-made lanterns are set afloat on Cockle Bay in a majestic display of colour and light. Also enjoy shadow puppetry, fortune-telling tea ceremonies and food stalls.

The Chinese New Year celebrations are presented by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority as part of its Culture Beats program, a celebration of cultures from around the world.