Actors perform dragon dance to welcome the forthcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at the streets of Binondo, the Chinatown of Manila/XINHUA
The Chinese New Year festival atmosphere was palpable as visitors drove and walked along the famous Las Vegas Blvd. where they could see a huge electronic billboard with the Chinese character showing “Gong Xi Fa Cai,” which means “May you be happy and prosperous!” and another billboard which says in Chinese: “Happy Chinese New Year!”
At Bellagio, one of the top hotels in the city, the reception desk is decorated with red Chinese New Year scrolls, red lanterns and firecrackers. If not for the American receptionists, visitors would wonder whether they were in a hotel in China.
Upon entering the conservatory, visitors are greeted by an 18-feet-tall Chinese money tree, which symbolizes prosperity, good fortune and nobility.
But what attracts visitors most is a 9-feet King Cobra snake covered in 5,000 blue and yellow luminescent scales. The snake, perched atop a mound of gold coins, is believed to protect wealth and good fortune through the year as Chinese are welcoming the arrival of the Year of Snake.
Nearby, a waterfall gushes over Taihu rocks. The waterfall is believed to encourage the circulation of chi, or natural energy.
The shops nearby have also shown some features of Chinese culture. The shop selling Omega watches has a display of snake on its window to wish customers a Happy Chinese New Year.
The Jasmine Cantonese Cuisine has fortune trees on its entrance and New Year scrolls on both sides.
Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing is world known, but Bellagio has set up a similar guesthouse to provide the most expensive and exclusive feast for the Chinese New Year in Las Vegas.
The eight-course meal in the Bellagio’s Tuscany Kitchen is 500 dollars per person, and the once-in-a-lifetime experience is available for only three days.
With only nine tables, a small number of privileged guests there will be treated like a world leader and head of state. Executive chef Hao Baoli, who has led the culinary team for 30 years in China, is flying to the city to ensure that the reputation of the prestigious State House is upheld with the finest standards.
This will be only the second time in history that the Chinese chefs have travelled to America for such a culinary event.
Bellagio President Randy Morton, who hosts the Chinese culinary creme de la creme, told the press: “Food is an integral symbol of togetherness during the Chinese New Year. Joining two of the highest standards in hospitality is an honour and will make for a very special occasion.”
At the Palazzo hotel, there is a unique Chinese New Year creation towering 40 feet high. It took 10 months to design, build, deliver and install.
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