Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda led the beginning of the festivities at La Chinesca in Mexicali to celebrate the 2024 Chinese New Year Festival. At this exciting event, she was accompanied by thousands of local residents and distinguished members of the Chinese community.

The Year of the Wood Dragon was celebrated through an artistic program organized by the Secretariat of Culture, in order to highlight several different traditions from this Asian nation. It is important to remember that commemorative events will continue on Sunday, February 11 in Ensenada and next Friday, February 16, in Tijuana.

In her speech, the state governor highlighted the work done together with the 24th Municipal Administration of Mexicali, led by Norma Alicia Bustamante Martínez, to recover the dynamism and the image of La Chinesca after decades of abandonment. She said that this work has made this area a Magical Neighborhood that has become one of the favorite places of Mexicali's families and it has made it receive awards on cultural tourism matters.

This is the result of an effort from civil society, the Chinese community, that has given so much to Baja California. Our history cannot be written without the Chinese community in our state. This magical fusion of the people of Mexico and the people of the People's Republic of China, who came here, who have given Baja California a great development.

In addition, Governor Marina del Pilar highlighted the value of Chinese gastronomy for Mexicali, underscoring how these dishes have become an emblem of this city as it attracts national and international tourists and has created a notable boost to the local economy.

Mexicali is the only city in the world that was able to open a museum during the pandemic and that was thanks to great efforts made between citizens, the government, and the private sector, as businesspeople have joined this great project.

Celebrations began with a parade led by Governor Ávila Olmeda, alongside state and municipal authorities, followed by a dance by Chinese dragons and lions. During this event, ribbons were cut in two shops that are promoting maintenance of this Mexicali-Chinese neighborhood.

At this event, the following people were present: Consul of China in Tijuana, Yu Yuen; the Coordinator of Strategic Projects of Baja California, Carlos Torres Torres; the Secretary of Culture of Baja California, Alma Delia Ábrego Ceballos; the president of the China Association of Mexicali, Antonio Woo; delegate of Mexicali's Historic Downtown, Rubén Chen, and general coordinator of the Historic Downtown Trust, Fernando Félix.

RELATED VIDEO: Marina del Pilar kicks off Chinese New Year