Washington (People’s Daily) –Chinese Embassy charge d' affaires Xu Xueyuan attended the 2023 Chinese New Year Celebration on Saturday at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC.

Visitors learn about wood block prints, posters and paper-cuts at the 2023 Chinese New Year Celebration in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC on Saturday. (Photos: People’s Daily/Li Zhiwei)

In her opening remarks, Xu expressed her appreciation for the unremitting efforts of the museum to carry on the tradition of presenting Chinese New Year celebration in partnership with the embassy and hosting the ninth annual event.

Lion dancers at the 2023 Chinese New Year Celebration in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC on Saturday.

She said she was glad to see art groups, cultural performances and crafts.

Xu quoted rabbit officer Judy Hopps from the Disney movie Zootopia: “I implore you to try. The more we try to understand one another, the more exceptional each of us will be,” and encouraged guests to experience the Spring Festival customs and appreciate the beauty of cultural diversity.

Children experience traditional Chinese culture at the 2023 Chinese New Year Celebration in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC on Saturday.

Museum director Stephanie Stebich thanked the Embassy for supporting and participating in the Chinese New Year event and looked forward to more collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in the future.

The museum's courtyard was lit up with red lanterns, Chinese knots, paper-cuts and posters. Art groups performed lion dances, Chinese traditional dance and diabolo tricks.

Green screen photos at the 2023 Chinese New Year Celebration in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC on Saturday.

Visitors to the activity zone could try green screen photo booths, clay sculpture tutorials, traditional wood-block printing, Chinese painting, calligraphy, video games, and festive cards.

This is the ninth Chinese New Year Celebration jointly presented by the Museum and the Chinese Embassy in the US.