Henan province was the star of the Sixth Annual Lunar New Year celebration at the Meridian International Center on Thursday in Washington.

Henan's traditional cuisine, festive holiday displays and artistic demonstrations were highlighted in the Year of the Monkey. Artists from the Henan Song and Dance Theatre, the Luohe Acrobatic Troupe, the Henan Beijing Opera Art Center and the Henan Opera Troupe put together a special performance.

An exhibition of Wuyang peasant paintings, one of the great artistic achievements of the Han people in Henan province, is also on display.

"The performance was amazing. The monkey was funny, but also talented. The acrobats were strong but beautiful, soft but very athletic, showing strength and beauty," said Stuart Holiday, president and CEO of the center.

"We are also quite honored to exhibit paintings by farmers and be able to have all the artists here to perform for us. Culture is a place where countries can come together with mutual understanding," said Terry K. Harvey, vice-president of culture programs at the center.

"We have addressed cultures from Shanxi province and Jiangxi province and so on in the past five years. Chinese New Year is a very important festival for Chinese people. It is the time for Chinese family members to reunite," Harvey told China Daily.

Guests included members of Congress, senior diplomats, media and policy advocates interested in China, and cultural leaders. They also were treated to a performance of Beijing opera. The event was co-organized by the Chinese Embassy, McLarty Associates and Squire Patton Boggs.

Pan Jialing in Washington contributed to this story.

(China Daily USA 02/05/2016 page2)