Terracotta Warrior Lanterns to be centerpiece at Manchester

MANCHESTER, July 29 (Xinhua) -- China's Terracotta Warrior lanterns are to be the centerpiece of new year celebrations in Manchester in January, marking their first appearance in Britain.

The Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors will illuminate Manchester's Exchange Square as part of the city's 2017 Chinese New Year program, the biggest celebration of its kind in Britain outside Chinatown in London.

The event will be co-held by Heart of Manchester BID along with the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester, Manchester City Council and the Confucius Institute.

Commissioned for the Beijing Olympics Games in 2008, the exhibition has appeared in iconic locations across the globe including Sydney Harbour, Zagreb Central Square and Prague's Hradcany Castle.

Created by artist Xia Nan, the brightly colored lanterns were inspired by the the famous Terracotta Army uncovered in 1974 in the tomb of China's First Emperor and widely regarded as the 8th Wonder of the Ancient World.

Each standing more than two meters tall, the lanterns bring together two key elements of Chinese art and culture, namely the compelling story of the Terracotta Army and the 2000 year old tradition of lantern-making.

A spokeswoman for Heart of Manchester BID said: "The Chinese New Year celebrations in 2017 are set to be the biggest the city has ever seen."

"Manchester city center will see in the Year of the Rooster with a four day program (26th - 29th January 2017), celebrating the very best of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture," she added.

More than 6,000 traditional red lanterns will adorn the city's streets alongside a 15-meter tall Golden Dragon spectacle, with light shows and firework displays, Chinese and Asian food villages, live music and traditional performances and a host of citywide family events.