Beijing hosted a series of lively events across the city on Tuesday, the New Year's eve, to ring in 2025.
From countdown parties to cultural performances, the festivities offered residents and visitors a vibrant and unforgettable start of the New Year.
At Shougang Park, one of the most anticipated countdown events drew revelers into an exciting atmosphere.
The program featured performances of dancing, acrobatics, and a youth choir with participants from China and abroad, delighting the audience.
Organizers emphasized the event's blend of classic and modern styles, highlighting Beijing's cultural richness and youthful energy.
Merrymakers expressed hopes for a successful year in 2025.
"The year 2025 marks the first year of my career. And I hope to achieve success and make progress in my work," said a visitor.
"It's a joyous occasion, and the way it is being celebrated here in Beijing, I'm extremely happy to be here, it's a family gathering and we are having a wonderful time, I wish I take this opportunity to wish all my Chinese brothers and sisters a happy new year," said another visitor.
The 798 Art Zone was packed with crowds eager to celebrate the arrival of 2025.
A creative lion dance that fused tradition with modernity kicked off the festivities, followed by a light and music-filled countdown ceremony that heightened the celebratory spirit.
The art zone hosted diverse live performances, including street magic shows, opera performances and art parades, offering visitors a fresh cultural and tourism experience.
Beijing ushers in 2025 with vibrant celebrations
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
