Artists from the Liaoning Dance Troupe perform at the Happy Chinese New Year gala, Auckland, Jan 20, 2017. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

A Happy Chinese New Year gala was held in Auckland, New Zealand, on Jan 20.

About 700 government officials, representatives and locals from China and New Zealand attended the event.

Artists from the Liaoning Dance Troupe performed a series of Chinese folk dances and traditional music, especially the "Two-people show", or Er Ren Zhuan, which originated in Northeast China.

Established in 1956, the Liaoning Dance Troupe has created a large number of folk dances and dramas with distinctive local features. The artists intended to let people in New Zealand know more about the culture and customs in Northeast China through their performances during the Happy Chinese New Year celebrations.