What better way to get ready for Chinese New Year on Friday than to have some dumplings, take a Chinese lesson online and talk about the economy from the offices of China Daily USA, high atop Times Square in New York.

With bird’s-eye views of the Chrysler Building and the New Year’s Eve crystal ball, the newspaper hosted a livestream celebration on Facebook on Wednesday.

Popular bilingual blogger Jessica Beinecke, known in China as Bai Jie, was the host of the hour-long show that also included traditional New Year’s customs and a visit from Zhang Meifang, deputy consul general of China in New York.

Zhang said the New Year’s celebrations usually last two weeks, as families gather for a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. In the north of China, dumplings are the must-have meal.

Other main traditions include giving red envelopes filled with money, setting off firecrackers and hanging beautiful decorations on doors and windows.

Zhang said that numerous celebrations will be held across the city through Feb 20, including performances, exhibitions and concerts.

One of the highlights was the fireworks display over the Hudson River on Wednesday.

John W. Allen, chairman and CEO of the Greater China Corp, said how impressed he was with the rapid development of China’ economy and technology.

“This morning, I used WeChat with people in Shanghai, Beijing, New York and San Francisco,” he said.

“I go to China all the time, and I give a lot of talks on technology and finance. China is advancing so fast in technology that it is way ahead of the rest of the world, but it’s in partnership with the rest of the world,” Allen said.

Zhang enthusiastically agreed.

“In recent years, we have really seen China’s development. And last year was especially a keystone for China’s economic development because of the successful holding of the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress, which set up the blueprint for China’s development for the next 30 years,” she said.

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