Sunday 29th January 2012 saw hundreds of thousands of visitors descend on London's West End to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon and usher in the New Year in style!

The day started off with a spectacular parade around Chinatown and central London featuring a host of colourful floats and performers. Trafalgar Square was packed to the rafters as Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, officially opened the day at noon alongside the President of the London Chinatown Association Stanley Tse, and the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Mr. Liu Xiaoming.

Following a dramatic firecracker display, an afternoon of spectacular performances began. A stage at Trafalgar Square was brought to life with a fantastic music, dance and acrobatics. The highlight of the afternoon was a gravity-defying dragon dance, performed by the world famous Chen brothers six feet off the ground!

Meanwhile Chinatown and Shaftesbury Avenue were bustling with activity throughout the day. A series of stalls in Chinatown offered revellers a feast of Chinese culture whilst Shaftesbury Avenue played host to performers, musicians, martial artists and even a fashion show!

This footage has been edited using both time lapse and tilt shift techniques.