HUNDREDS flocked to the Guildhall Square today as Southampton celebrated the Chinese Lantern Festival.

Organised by community group UK Shaolin, the celebrations started outside Westquay where crowds were treated to the traditional dragon and lion dance performances.

Performers then walked up Above Bar Street to the Guildhall Square.

The Lantern Festival, which falls on the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

READ MORE: Hundreds gather to celebrate Year of the Rabbit 

Daily Echo: Alex Tang, 35 and Martine Niven, 42Alex Tang, 35 and Martine Niven, 42 (Image: Newsquest)

Event Manager Martine Niven, 42, from UK Shaolin Temple, said: “It was a wonderful celebration.

“It was so lovely to see everybody in Southampton gathering from all the communities, and it was wonderful to see them celebrating the Chinese culture of the Lantern and Spring Festival together.

“There have been some wonderful activities, people doing lots of arts and crafts on the Guildhall Square. The team was awesome. They were spectacular.

“They really enjoyed themselves, and it's great for them to celebrate all the culture.”

Following the parade, guests were invited to a ticketed show at UK Shaolin Centre in the Marlands Shopping Centre from 6pm where they enjoyed more Chinese dances, Shaolin kung fu and lion dancing.

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