Green Great Wall marks St Patrick's Day in Beijing

Badaling Great Wall is decorated with green lights to celebrate St Patrick's Day in Beijing on Thursday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Every year on and around St Patrick's Day, a wide variety of celebrations take place across the globe. China is no exception.

On March 16, the annual grand event to turn Great Wall green took place at the Badaling Great Wall Scenic Spot, attracting hundreds of people from all walks of life to witness the magic.

Ambassador of Ireland in China Paul Kavanagh said: "St Patrick's Day is a time of celebration in Ireland and for all those of Irish descent and affinity around the world. In a significant gesture of friendship and solidarity by the Chinese authorities towards the Irish people, the city administration of Beijing and the Yanqing district authorities, once again honor us with permission to green one of the greatest icons in the world, the Badaling Great Wall of China."

"I am delighted that this year we will be joined at the Great Wall Greening event by Government of Ireland Minister Seán Canney T.D. who is also visiting Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nanjing and Huzhou over the week-long festival period," he added.

At last night's event, Irish Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Seán Canney also joined in the celebration.

The minister said: "It is a great honor for the government and people of Ireland to have a number of Chinese national icons and famous buildings join the global greening once again in 2017, including the Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Disney Castle Shanghai, the Jinxiu Tianfu Tower in Chengdu and a number of other prominent buildings in China."

"We appreciate very much Beijing's support and cooperation in having the Great Wall of China join the global greening this March. This year, 12 landmark buildings in Ireland went red in honor of China's Spring Festival as well as our friendship with the Chinese people and the friendly relationship between our two capital cities, Beijing and Dublin."

In addition to the participation of the Embassy of Ireland and Tourism Ireland, the event was also supported by Ireland's Wyeth Nutrition, manufacturer of Illuma infant formula, as well as the leading Irish building supplies company CRH, which has operations globally, including in China.

As many cities across the world get ready to celebrate St Patrick's Day, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu prepare for the biggest celebration of Irish culture in China to date.