People walk in a parade to kick off a weeklong Irish culture festival on Beijing's Wangfujing pedestrian street on Sunday, March 16, 2008, one day before St. Patrick's Day. The festival, which runs through March 21, aims to introduce Chinese citizens to Irish culture through events relating to dance, music, visual arts, theater and literature. [Photo: jinghua.cn]

People walk in a parade to kick off a weeklong Irish culture festival on Beijing's Wangfujing pedestrian street on Sunday, March 16, 2008, one day before St. Patrick's Day. [Photo: beijingww.com]

People walk in a parade to kick off a weeklong Irish culture festival on Beijing's Wangfujing pedestrian street on Sunday, March 16, 2008, one day before St. Patrick's Day. [Photo: beijingww.com]

(CRI March 17, 2008)