China Spirit UK was honoured to welcome Brian Kenny, Mayor of Wirral, and the Mayoress, Helen, to our Chinese New Year celebration. Their presence made the evening even more special as over 120 guests gathered to celebrate the Year of the Horse in true community spirit.

We were also delighted to welcome distinguished guests including Simon Wong, Chairman of the Chinese Business Association; Jozsef Tse, member of Friends of the Chinese Arch Liverpool; and Li XiaoHong, Chairwoman of Wirral Chinese Association.

The evening featured vibrant Chinese folk dance performances by the British Phoenix Chinese Arts and Cultural Creative Association, alongside spectacular lion dance and martial arts displays from China Spirit UK members. Months of dedicated training were proudly showcased on stage.

One of the most memorable moments of the night was when all attending members joined Master Xingbo for a shared Tai Chi session. Around 50 people moved together in harmony — a powerful image of unity and wellbeing. Even the Mayor and Mayoress enthusiastically joined in, embracing the spirit of the celebration and sharing the experience with our community.

In his speech, the Mayor said:

"The Year of the Horse symbolises strength, energy and determination — qualities that are clearly reflected in China Spirit UK and in all of you here tonight."

He also praised the organisation’s contribution to the borough, adding,

"Events like this show Wirral at its very best — celebrating diversity, friendship and community together."

The atmosphere was joyful throughout the evening, and thanks to everyone’s generosity, the raffle raised £399 to support our young athletes travelling to the Acropolis Wushu Championship in Athens, Greece this March.

A truly memorable evening — full of culture, community pride, Tai Chi harmony, and celebration.