Global New Year celebrations light up skies

China

Global New Year celebrations light up skies

2025-01-01 15:01 Last Updated At：01-02 00:07

As the countries around the world welcomed the arrival of 2025, people rejoiced in various ways from fireworks displays to light shows, marking the onset of the new year with spectacular celebrations.

Australia's iconic Sydney set the stage for a grand New Year's Eve extravaganza, igniting the night sky with a symphony of fireworks at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1. From the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge to the famed Sydney Opera House and the rooftops of buildings that peppered the harbor, a breathtaking display spanning seven kilometers unfolded. Over nine tons of fireworks lit up the night for 12 minutes, while drones and aerial firing platforms introduced a fresh dimension to the revelry.

"It's the nicest city in the world right now. It will be the first to go to 2025. And I wish you a happy new year to everyone," said Thibault Godard, a French tourist.

The world's tallest marvel, Dubai's Burj Khalifa, stood as a beacon of wonder, staging a traditional New Year's fireworks and light show. Over 15,600 fireworks, accompanied by 200 beams of light and lasers, bathed the Dubai skyline in a cascade of colors. As the crowd joined in a collective countdown, the Burj Khalifa emblazoned "Happy New Year" in Arabic, English, and Chinese, while brilliant fireworks cascaded around its towering frame. This year's theme, "Beyond Dreams," unfolded over nearly nine minutes, weaving together original music, lights, lasers, and fireworks into a spellbinding performance.

"There are a lot of hopes for the coming year to be even better, to see my family happy, to be successful in what I do. And as usual, for the world to be more in peace," said Ahmed, a tourist.

In Thailand, Bangkok's Menam River hosted a mesmerizing fireworks spectacle as the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1. Tens of thousands of fireworks danced across a 1,400-meter canvas of the night sky, painting a vivid tapestry that spanned five kilometers. Approximately 100,000 locals and visitors from around the world joined hands in celebration, welcoming the dawn of a new year with awe-inspiring fervor.

Shenzhou-23 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceflight mission have boarded the spacecraft for a flight to China’s Tiangong space station.

The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship is scheduled to blast off at 23:08 Beijing Time (15:08 GMT) from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The three Chinese astronauts, commander Zhu Yangzhu, spacecraft pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Lai Ka-ying, climbed aboard the spaceship with the help of technicians.

Following the launch, the astronauts will complete an in-orbit rotation with the outgoing Shenzhou-21 crew, and one of them will conduct a one-year in-orbit stay, double the usual duration of previous Shenzhou missions.

Notably, astronaut Lai Ka-ying is also the first astronaut from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Shenzhou-23 marks the 40th flight of China's manned spaceflight program, and the seventh manned flight mission since the Tiangong space station entered its application and development phase in late 2022.