Hundreds of thousands of people hit Sydney to celebrate Year of the Pig

Hundreds of thousands of people have flocked to the city for the official Chinese New Year celebrations on Tuesday night, as part of a 10-day festival to welcome in the Year of the Pig. Chinatown is the epicentre of the party with lion dancers and dumplings the big draw cards.

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Lions dancers and dumplings have taken over the Sydney CBD as revellers paint the city red to ring in the Lunar New Year.

Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the city for the official celebrations on Tuesday night, as part of a 10-day festival to welcome in the Year of the Pig.

The official City of Sydney festival started on Saturday and will run until February 10, with 1.3 million people tipped to attend.

Lion dancers at the Sydney Fish Markets help ring in the Year of the Pig. Picture: Supplied

Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore handing out lucky red envelopes in Chinatown. Picture: Katherine Griffiths

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Haymarket’s Chinatown has become the epicentre of celebrations with the Du Hung Lion Dancers keeping local business owners and tourists entertained.

Chinese Youth League coach Homan Leung said he felt appreciative and inspired by the huge masses of people celebrating his culture’s holiday.

“When I started it was only the Chinese community that celebrated our new year but over the decades all the Asian nationalities as well as Australians have gotten into it,” he said.

“We are even seeing westerners learning how to do the lion dancing.

“I was born here so it makes me really proud to be Australian as well as have Chinese background — It is very heartwarming.”

A couple sharing a kiss in front of a pig instalation. Picture: AAP Image/Steven Saphore

Big sculptures of pigs have been littered across the city to celebrate the Year of the Pig. Picture: AAP Image/Steven Saphore

Giant purple pigs have sprung up across Sydney to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

The installations coincide with the opening of the Lunar New Year festival.

Created by international artist Choi Jeong-Hwa the oversized animals have been created to celebrate the coming year of the pig.

The pig is an East Asian symbol for wealth, fortune and luck.

Narrabeen boy Brandon Ritson, 11, has a special affinity with the year of the pig.

“I was born in the year of the Golden Pig, that only comes around every 650 years,” he said.

“My family comes to Chinese New Year every year. “I love eating all the food here, especially the dumplings.”

A stunning fireworks show behind the Opera House that is glowing red. Picture: AAP Image/Steven Saphore

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was also lit up. Picture: AAP Image/Steven Saphore

Jo Aroney told The Daily Telegraph the clashing of cymbals and heavy drumming made Dixon Street feel even more authentic.

“It’s great sitting and eating dumplings with the lions dancing around and the music in the background,” she said. “It lifts the vibe of the whole centre.”

The light show at Circular Quay has been a major drawcard of the festival, with the illuminated Harbour Bridge and Opera House proving a spectacular sight.

On Tuesday afternoon close to 800 people attended the Lunar New Year World Yum Cha Record attempt in Darling Harbour. Picture: John Appleyard

There was also a lion dance show while diners feasted. Picture: AAP Image/ Joel Carrett

Chefs steamed thousands of dumplings for the world record of 764 eating yum cha at one time. Picture: AAP Image/ Joel Carrett

The party will continue across other parts of the city with the Chatswood Year of the Pig Festival, running until February 19.

Willoughby City Council Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney said Chatswood was incredibly multicultural and the festival was a celebration of that cultural diversity.