To celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year, the 2012 "Cultures of China, Festival of Spring" performance brought a memorable evening of joy, excitement and celebration to thousands of Chicago audience on Sunday.

Some 45 award-winning Chinese musicians and artists performed a magnificent and elegant show to Chicagoans, including folk songs, classical dances, and Peking Opera.

Led by the internationally acclaimed Beijing Opera singer Yu Kuizhi and the famous male singer Wang Hongwei, the visiting troupe impressed the audiences with their outstanding performance. In addition, it featured many other first class Chinese professional singers and dancers from Youth Ensemble of Hubei Province.

Ren Qiliang, deputy director of the Chinese State Council's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO), wished everyone a happy Chinese New Year. Yang Guoqiang, China's consulate general in Chicago, expressed his gratitude and welcome to the performing troupe.

Other distinguished guests, including Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, a representative of Senator Mark Kirk, and Gene Lee, advisor to the 25th District, all gave their Chinese New Year greetings.

During the show, Liu Hanping, a doctor from Chicago Chinatown, went on stage to perform a traditional Chinese love song with Yang Jun, one of the five famous "Golden Flowers of Huangmei Opera."

Liu was all smiling when talking about his experience of performing on stage with a famous singer. "I am very excited and very happy! It is the second time for me to perform on stage. It is truly a blessing to celebrate Spring Festival with such high level professional singers from China!"

Anita Tang, managing director at Royal Roots Global Inc., also had a great time at the show. "It is very exciting, especially for overseas Chinese. It brings China to us. I also see a lot of American friends. They are very excited as well!" she said.

Li Rongshun, head of Feng Hua Chinese school, said, "After watching the show, we feel that we miss China even more."

This special performance featuring majestic Chinese culture is co-sponsored by the OCAO and the China Overseas Exchanges Association (COEA). It is organized by the Greater Chicago Chinese Committee of the "Cultures of China, Festival of Spring," which is composed of more than 60 greater Chicago Chinese organizations.

The "Cultures of China, Festival of Spring" performance has been invited to more than 10 major countries during the Chinese lunar New Year season in the past years and has received numerous recognitions and compliments from both overseas Chinese community and the mainstream society all over the world.