China embraces a joyful Spring Festival with traditions old and new

As the Spring Festival approaches, the festive atmosphere is growing ever stronger. Across China, streets are adorned with colorful lights and decorations, radiating joy and celebration. Folk performances, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and bustling holiday markets unfold one after another, creating heartwarming scenes of the season. Amid laughter and cheer, people welcome the Lunar New Year and celebrate the holiday, experiencing both time-honored traditions and new trends in the vibrant rhythms of everyday life. A joyous, harmonious, and energetic Spring Festival panorama is gradually coming into view.

Photo taken on Feb. 7, 2026 shows a folk artist performing a fire-breathing act at the Fantasy Spring Festival Temple Fair in Xiangyang City, central China's Hubei Province. (Yang Dong/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Feb. 7, 2026 shows a folk artist performing the Ansai waist drum for visitors at Shuangsuoshan Scenic Area, Mengcheng County, Bozhou City, east China's Anhui Province. (Hu Weiguo/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2026 shows citizens selecting New Year decorations at Nanjie Market, Jiyuan City, central China's Henan Province. (Zheng Zemin/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Feb. 7, 2026 shows a stunning water-based intangible cultural heritage fire pot performance attracting numerous citizens and tourists in Nanning City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Hu Yan/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2026 shows a folk artist performing the Haiyang Dayangge at a Lunar New Year cultural market in Zhifu District, Yantai City, east China's Shandong Province. (Sun Wentan/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Feb. 7, 2026 shows tourists attending a fish lantern parade in Zhanqi Village, Beian Town, She County, Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, enjoying the festive Huizhou New Year atmosphere. (Fan Chengzhu/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2026 shows children interacting with a face-changing performer in Jiuge Alley, Zigui County, Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province. (Wang Huifu/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2026 shows a renowned calligrapher handing out handwritten Spring Festival couplets and “Fu” characters to citizens at the first-floor corridor of Yihecheng Shopping Center, Ganjingzi District, Dalian City, northeast China's Liaoning Province. (Liu Debin/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Feb. 7, 2026 shows a folk artist performing a lion dance at the third "Sweet Village Gala" in Shaba Town, Qianjiang District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Yang Min/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2026 shows people strolling through the China New Year Flavor Festival in Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, east China's Shanghai, enjoying a vibrant festive atmosphere filled with lanterns, flowers and the joy of the Spring Festival. (Yang Guosheng/Guangming Picture)