O'Neil shared with Xinhua his understanding of the special meaning of dragon, "it means loyalty, a drive-forward and an active pursuit of something wonderful."

Artistic performances were also staged under the London Eye, including the dragon dance. An 18-meter-long golden dragon from Tongliang, a district of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality was unveiled during the evening performances.

Tongliang Dragon Dance originated in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and flourished during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In 2006, it was honored as part of the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage.