Spectacular fireworks lit up the night sky over the Hudson River in New York City on Wednesday as part of the celebrations of the Chinese Lunar New Year that falls on Friday.

The fireworks display, themed "Happy Spring Festival", was held near Pier 84 over the Hudson River, close to the Chinese consulate general in New York.

In mostly red and gold, the two major auspicious traditional Chinese colors, the display created images representing Chinese cultural elements, like the dog, one of the 12 traditional zodiac signs, and the Chinese knot.

Prior to the display, Zhang Qiyue, Chinese consul general in New York, hosted a celebratory gala for 300-odd local celebrities and officials.

Designed and organized by China's Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), the display was executed by Fireworks by Grucci, a New York-based fireworks company.

"It (was) fantastic, especially on Valentine's Day," Scott C. Cooper, director of business development at Fireworks by Grucci, told Xinhua.

He said Grucci was excited to work with CAFA to stage the event, which is already a must-see for New Yorkers and international visitors to the city during the Lunar New Year. The two sides initiated the cooperation in 2014.

Aside from the fireworks show, the week-long Lunar New Year celebrations in the U.S. city also include a performance by the New York Philharmonic, the lighting of the Empire State Building, and the annual Lunar New Year Parade and Festival in Chinatown.

The headline event of this eight-day-long festival is a special "Students Day" on Friday at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

New York City became the largest urban school district in the country to recognize the holiday for its public school children in 2016. 

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