Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Trafalgar Square, London on Sunday to celebrate the Chinese New Year, making it a festive hub.

The celebration of the start of the Year of the Snake was extra special because Spring Festival was recognized last December by the UNESCO as one of the traditions representing Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

China's Ambassador to the United Kingdom Zheng Zeguang sent his Chinese New Year wishes to all in a speech at the opening ceremony in which he said: "The Chinese New Year celebration is all about renewal, family unity, and prosperity. And this is exactly what we have gathered here for — to celebrate peace, solidarity, friendship, and collaboration. This huge turnout today is a testament to your support for China-UK cooperation, to your aspiration for working together among all countries.