UNITED NATIONS/LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12-- Galas and performances were presented Thursday at the UN headquarters in New York and in Los Angeles, celebrating the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year of the Goat.

At the gala presented at the UN headquarters, renowned tenor Warren Mok, violinist Lyu Siqing, popular singer Huo Zun and other artists played their classic pieces.

Chinese Kungfu (martial arts) show, performance of musical instruments like Erhu (a two-stringed bowed musical instrument) and Guzheng (Chinese plucked zither), and classical Chinese dance introduced traditional Chinese culture to the large audience.

"Tonight is special. At the UN headquarters, we perform the Chinese New Year Gala to share with the world our traditional festival," said Warren Mok. "As a singer, it's my responsibility to help spread the culture of my country to the whole world."

The gala is initiated by the United Nations Chinese Book Club.

"Tonight's performance is successful. You can see the crowd clapping and cheering from time to time," said Wen Xuejun, president of the club.

"I think the UN is a great platform to spread our culture," Wen said.

Also on Thursday, a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration was held at South Coast Plaza, a luxury shopping destination in Los Angeles in Southern California.

Hundreds of visitors enjoyed the traditional Chinese art performance, lion dance and traditional Chinese music performance at the six-year-old annual event in the South Coast Plaza to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Chinese Beijing Opera actress Sun Ping and her husband Ye Jinsen, who comes from a well-known Beijing Opera family, performed a famous episode of Beijing Opera -- "The Forest of Wild Boars." The face changing performed by a local American artist also won a long standing ovation from the audience.

"We are privileged and honored to have established a close relationship with the Chinese Consulate Office in Los Angeles and enjoy their support of our annual celebration of the Lunar New Year," said Werner Escher, the executive director of Domestic and International Markets of South Coast Plaza.

Meanwhile, Xinhua Gallery held a photo exhibition themed "Explore Beautiful China Along the Silk Road" in collaboration with the China National Tourist Office Los Angeles during the 11-day event at the South Coast Plaza.

The photos show the natural sceneries, profound history, and diversified culture of some destinations along the Silk Road, an ancient land trade passage between China and Europe.

"We cherish the relationship between China and the United States. We are very happy to have this celebration in the South Coast Plaza in the year of ram," said Steve Mensinger, the mayor of Coata Mesa.

Terri Delhamer, a visitor, told Xinhua, "I have just seen lion dancing on TV before. It's my first time to see a live show. It's really beautiful."

The shopping plaza was decorated with a lot of ornaments with Chinese characteristics.

The goat occupies the eighth position in the Chinese Zodiac circle of 12 animals.