Zhang Qiyue, Chinese consul general in New York and well-known actor Liu Xiao Ling Tong, who portrayed the Monkey King in China's 1986 TV series Journey to the West, flip the switch in a lighting ceremony on Friday at the Empire State Building in Manhattan. The building's tower lights will be in red and gold starting on Friday to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, which starts on Feb 8. John B. Kessler, president and COO of the Empire State Building real estate, watches the ceremony. NIU YUE / FOR CHINA DAILY

The top of the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan will shine in red and gold starting Friday night in a salute to the Chinese Lunar New Year that starts on Feb 8.

On Saturday, a light show designed by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman will be put on at the top of the building starting at 8:30 pm and will be synced to fireworks over the Hudson River.

The lighting ceremony at the building also kicked off Happy Chinese New Year: Fantastic Art China, a series of China-related cultural events that will be held through Feb 10 to mark the Year of the Monkey.

The events will be held at prominent venues in Manhattan, including the Park Avenue Armory, Lincoln Center, the Empire State Building, Times Square, the Javits Convention Center and Pier 84 at the Hudson River Park.

Mainly supported by the Ministry of Culture of China and Chinese Consulate General in New York, it is the second year that the program has been held in the city.