NEWCASTLE’S Chinese Arch, which marks the entrance of Chinatown, has undergone a make over thanks to a collaboration between the Chinese community, NE1 Ltd, the Business Improvement District Company for Newcastle city centre and Newcastle City Council.

The memorial arch, which in Mandarin is called Pai Fang, has had its commemorative boards restored and replaced. The boards list the names of the members of the Chinese community who contributed to its construction and are written in both English and Mandarin.

The boards were blessed before being repositioned on the arch during a commemorative ceremony.

This year is the Year of the Dog in the Chinese Sign of the Zodiac and celebrations include the traditional Chinese dragon parade on Sunday, which starts at Old Eldon Square at 11.20am.