Kunming enjoys day in sun at Macy's parade

The float from "The City of Eternal Spring" was treated to some familiar springlike temperatures as it took part in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on Thursday in New York.

Kunming has that title because of its pleasant climate year-round, and with mostly sunny skies and mild temperatures pushing 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the float's riders probably felt at home.

It was the 89th edition of Macy's famous parade, with more than 3 million spectators estimated along the route in Manhattan, with an audience of 50 million watching a live broadcast.

"This is an important exhibition for Americans and the whole world," Zhang Qiyue, Chinese consul general in New York, said after the float ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"Most Western visitors are still unfamiliar with Kunming," said Fu Yimin, vice- director of the Kunming Municipal Tourism Development Commission.

"I hope through this grand parade, New York citizens and tourists in New York could get to know Kunming and choose to visit Kunming in the future," he added.

The float: The Stone Forest of Kunming, China: A Natural Wonder in the World features Kunming's UNESCO heritage site — the Stone Forest — with a replica in the center.

The Stone Forest is an area near Kunming overgrown with tree-shaped stones in the form of stalagmites formed 270 million years ago.

The float also was embellished with decorations such as a Chinese knot, stone lion and the Great Wall.

Atop the float was a troupe of performers, including flag dancers waving flags from Kunming's famous tourist sites and a team of 50 dancers composed of both Chinese and Americans wearing traditional Chinese costumes.

Chinese music blared from the float as spectators waved and the performers yelled out "Ni hao! Ni hao!" which means hello in Chinese.