The Shangri-La restaurant in Chepstow held its annual Lion Dance on Sunday 1st March, within the official 15 days of the lunar festival.

The restaurant has held the free event for the past seven years, raising money for The British Red Cross and sharing the Chinese culture with a large number of people in the town.

The Yi Quin Lion Dance Club, who performed the live dance are the south coast's premier Chinese Lion Dance Group and thrive on providing excellent performances, developing fresh ideas, whilst sticking to the traditions.

The Lion Dance involves two performers – normally both highly skilled martial artists – one as the head and the other as the tail, working in tandem to perform a range of moves, from traditional "Chut Sing" to stunt like jumps and lifts. The idea of the lion dance is to capture the nobility, strength and bravery of the lion within Chinese mythology, and when the lion bows in three directions (bowing to heaven, earth and man) it symbolises peace and tranquillity and their mystical nature. Lions often adorn Chinese buildings as guardians, to protect and ward off evil and to bring the goodness of the lion to the household.

The original Lion Dance was conceived around 2,000 years ago in ancient China, during the Tang dynasty, and there are many folk stories that relate the appearance of the lion in China.

One explanation describes how lions came to China via the Silk Road trading route, probably from Persia or north Africa, as gifts to the Chinese Emperors. The Chinese were so impressed by these magnificent animals they attributed them to the Gods and over the years they have become part of the culture.

Restuarant owners said: "A massive thank you everyone who came to the lion dance on Sunday to help us celebrate Chinese New Year.

"A special thank you to the community for such a good turn out, to the helpful staff and a huge thank you Christine Morton from the British Red Cross for helping us to raise £423.40!

"Happy new year everyone!"