Age-old parade enjoys historic twist on streets of London

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.

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.