San Francisco held its annual Chinese New Year parade Saturday night to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse, with thousands of revelers cheering on hometown hero and Olympic champion Gu Ailing as grand marshal.
Featuring drumming, dancing and floats, the parade celebrates the vitality of the Chinese American community and is one of the oldest and largest celebrations of its kind outside of Asia.
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Civic leaders and performers marched from downtown to Chinatown to the sound of firecrackers. Children paraded on inflatable horses, and lion dancers and martial artists waved to the crowds.
According to the event website, the parade was originally organized in the 1860s by Chinese immigrants who came to work during the California Gold Rush and wanted to share their culture through a parade of “favorite American traditions.”
While the celebrations always draw large crowds, attendees were particularly excited about Mr. Gu, who elicited loud cheers.
Vanessa Chan, who is from neighboring South San Francisco, said she represents a “fusion of cultures.”
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“She’s really great…she’s fun, she’s sunny, and she represents positivity,” Chen said.
Gu Kailai appeared in the parade wearing a red dress and riding in a red convertible decorated with flowers. This color is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity in Chinese festivals.
Parade organizer Wiliam Gee said Gu was chosen for the role in the middle of last year before competing at the 2025 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortino, where she won two silver medals and a gold medal, making her the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history.
“The Year of the Horse brings a lot of new vitality and vitality,” Ji said. “She definitely represents Chinese tradition and is definitely an icon.”
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Gu has come under scrutiny for her decision to compete for China, and Megan Chin, also of South San Francisco, said she believed the Olympian was being unfairly targeted.
“When you’re a multicultural person and you want to celebrate those two traditions, if there are people who want to celebrate their other traditions as well, then it’s good to be happy for them,” Chin said. “I’m so proud of her.”
Calvin Lui, who attended the event with his young son, said he loved Google’s representation of the city where she was born and raised and her Chinese heritage.
“That’s who she is, two countries – so she gets the best of both worlds,” Lui said.
