On January 30th, just before the Chinese Lunar New Year and the opening of Beijing Winter Olympic Games, the Chinese Consulate General in New York and the Empire State Building jointly held virtual lighting ceremony to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of Tiger. The Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping and the President and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust Inc. Anthony Malkin participated in the event and delivered video messages.
Huang Ping said, It’s my great pleasure to hold this lighting ceremony with my old friend, Mr. Tony Malkin, to welcome the Year of Tiger in such a challenging time. The Year of Tiger represents courage, confidence and passion, which are fundamentally important to fight against the pandemic and overcome all difficulties. The Chinese Consulate General in New York is willing to keep working with the Empire State Building to enhance mutual exchanges and understanding between the Chinese and American peoples. The Beijing Winter Olympic Games will open in just five days. China is ready to deliver a streamlined, safe and splendid Game to the world. Let’s stay tuned and work together for a shared future.
Anthony Malkin said, tonight we would like to extend our heartfelt new year’s greetings to the Chinese community here in the United States and mainland China and all around the world as we light the Empire State Building in red to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. Each year, the Empire State Building partners with the Chinese Consulate General in New York to light our world famous tower to celebrate this joyous holiday. This year we have even more to celebrate with the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing to begin on February 4th. Today we ring in the Year of Tiger, a period which draws great strength despite adversity after two challenging years. Additionally, our 5th Avenue lobby windows will feature a festive art installation which will highlight this year’s animal, the tiger. We hope you will visit the Empire State Building to see these beautiful windows in person and of course our wonderful view tonight.
That evening, the Empire State Building was lit in the cheerful color of red, celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year of Tiger. The Spring Festival Window Exhibition of Tiger will be set on the first floor of the Empire State Building for one month.
On February 4th, in honor of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the Empire State Building will light the colors of all participating countries’ flags in rotation. The rotation will begin in the colors of the Chinese flag, to express the best wishes to China as the host country.