NEW YORK, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Well-known Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York City celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year here on Friday with three Chinese celebrities' figures being unveiled -- singer/actress Carina Lau, actor Donnie Yen, and hurdler Liu Xiang.
With long stringed lanterns celebrating the Year of Dog, the museum's lobby was turned into exactly a right venue for Spring Festival party on the day Chinese worldwide celebrate their most important holiday of the year, not to mention a show room specially designed for the three Chinese stars on its top floor.
"Chinese New Year brings a lot to New York overall, that's why we want to do it this time around the year," Christine Haughney, regional head of marketing, Midway Attractions North America, Merlin Entertainments PLC, told Xinhua. "It's a real fun, more like a party atmosphere."
"We wanna to make something a little bit geared for Chinese visitors, who are really a very important part of our business," she said. "As you have seen on the fifth Avenue and Madison Ave, a lot of stores celebrate it (Lunar new year), so we want to be part of the party."
To many visitor's pleasant surprise, there is a puppy show on the floor below.
"It's the great idea to celebrate the Year of Dog by bringing rescued animals here, and dog brings good fortune to your home," said Matthew Carroll with North Shore Animalleague America, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization.
"What is the better way to bring fortune to your home than bringing your best friends?" he said.
Located on 42nd Street close to Times Square, Madame Tussauds was founded by the wax sculptor, Marie Tussaud, and is now operated by the United Kingdom-based entertainment company, Merlin Entertainments.