The Lady Mayor Dame Susan Langley DBE waves to the crowd from the State Coach on Saturday in London. [Photo by Wang Jingli/for chinadaily.com.cn]
The City of London's annual pageant the Lord Mayor's Show was officially styled the Lady Mayor's Show for the first time in its more than 800-year history on Saturday in the capital city of the United Kingdom.
The Lady Mayor interacts with participants during the Lady Mayor's Show on Saturday in London. [Photo by Yang Yi/chinadaily.com.cn]
The event marked the inauguration of Dame Susan Langley DBE as the 697th Lord Mayor of London, and notably, the first to bear the title Lady Mayor. Langley is the third woman ever to hold the post, whose jurisdiction covers the ancient City of London, rather than the modern metropolis, and has a one-year term of office, but the two previous female mayors did not change the position's formal title.
With over 800 years of history, the City of London is home to many of the capital's financial institutions, which has led to the term "the city" being used to describe all things related to banking and business in London. Representatives and companies based in the city also took part in this year's procession, including leading firms from the finance, insurance, and professional services sectors.
The procession began at 11 am in central London, featuring more than 7,000 participants from 100 organizations, along with 250 horses and 50 floats in a parade stretching nearly five kilometers. The Lady Mayor travelled in the State Coach from Mansion House and proceeded via Cheapside and St Paul's Cathedral to the Royal Courts of Justice.
Representatives of the ASEAN and International Women group greet spectators from a red double-decker bus during the Lady Mayor's Show on Saturday in London. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
To mark the milestone of the first-ever Lady Mayor, this year's procession featured seven female-themed contingents, paying tribute to the wisdom, elegance, and leadership of women.
Among them was the No 31 contingent of Zhejiang UK Association, or ZJUKA, themed "Celebrating Women and Cultural Connection". This year marks its seventh appearance in the show, the history of which dates back more than 800 years.
Founded in 2009, the association aims at strengthening friendship, business, and cultural exchange between the United Kingdom and China, according to Huang Ping, president of ZJUKA.
ZJUKA's float adorned with pearls, a dragon, and symbolic Chinese motifs is seen during the Lady Mayor's Show on Saturday in London. [Photo by Yang Yi/chinadaily.com.cn]
Members of the ZJUKA contingent pose for a group photo on the red double-decker bus during the Lady Mayor's Show on Saturday in London. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The contingent included 100 performers, dressed in qipao, the traditional Chinese dress for women, an array of Chinese ethnic costumes, and creations inspired by seashells, lotus blooms and pandas, as they sang and danced in front of a Lady Xishi Pearl float and a red double-decker bus.
Qian Shanshan, who played the role of Lady Xishi, said that the contingent drew on the legend of Lady Xishi to honor the quiet strength and grace that women have embodied throughout history, and to applaud the accomplishments of today's female leaders.
Another Chinese contingent, representing the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, or CCCUK, highlighted China's advancements in green technology, featuring new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar panels.
Lion dances, drumming and other traditional performances accompanying the float symbolized collaboration and friendship between China and the UK.
A traditional lion dance brought by the CCCUK is performed in the City of London during the Lady Mayor's Show on Saturday. [Photo by Yang Yi/chinadaily.com.cn]
CCCUK presents a dynamic float themed "China-UK Communities Sharing a Future" on Saturday in London. [Photo by Wang Jingli/for chinadaily.com.cn]
In addition to the Chinese contingents, this year's show also featured vibrant delegations from around the world, such as Mizuho Financial Group, one of the three Japanese "mega banks", and State Bank of India, showcasing diverse cultural traditions.
The Lady Mayor's Show attracts a large number of people on Saturday in London. [Photo by Wang Jingli/for chinadaily.com.cn]
Wang Jingli contributed to the story.
