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Xiaonian Festival observed in China in run-up to Chinese Lunar New Year

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Xiaonian Festival observed in China in run-up to Chinese Lunar New Year

2025-01-22 17:09 Last Updated At:01-23 00:37

The traditional Xiaonian Festival was observed across China on Wednesday in the run-up to the Chinese Lunar New Year, which is just one week away.

The 23rd day of the 12th month of the lunar year is called the Xiaonian Festival. This is the day when people offer sacrifices to the kitchen god, do a thorough cleaning, and eat a kind of sticky candy. The Xiaonian Festival traditionally marks the start of the countdown to the Chinese Lunar New Year, which starts on Jan. 29 this year.

In Shanghai, both local residents and tourists are seen flocking to an open bazaar to savor characteristic local delicacies, buy Spring Festival goods, and enjoy folk customs performances amid a growing festive atmosphere.

At the open bazaar, visitors can purchase handwritten Spring Festival couplets bearing the Chinese character "Fu," symbolizing fortune and good luck.

"I just saw people writing Spring Festival couplets and you can have a customized one with the character 'Fu' (Good Fortune) on it. It helps to create an atmosphere of the Spring Festival," said Li Yan, a Shanghai resident.

In Tongzi County of southwest China's Guizhou Province, many villagers are used to going to the market on the Xiaonian Festival to prepare goods for the Chinese lunar new year.

The market is brimming with a vibrant assortment of handicrafts, local specialties and delicious snacks, offering a feast for the eyes and senses.

"The Spring Festival is approaching and the children have come back home. So I've come here to the market to buy some food to have a bustling festival," said a local resident named Zhao Taisen.

In the Langzhong ancient town of southwest China's Sichuan Province, a lion dance parade is one of the traditional events celebrated on Xiaonian Festival.

This year, two colorful dragon dance performances are staged in a parade from the east and west of the ancient town, respectively, to the town center, bringing festival joy along the route.

In addition to the folk cultural performances, local delicacies including beef and steamed bun are also attracting many tourists.

In Zhangzhou City of east China's Fujian Province, the world cultural heritages Fujian Tulou are attracting large numbers of foreign visitors. Fujian Tulou are unique, usually round, fort-like buildings, built with a mixture of clay and sandy soil, dating back to the Song (960–1279) and Yuan (1279–1368) Dynasties. They are a type of Chinese rural dwellings of the ethnic minority Hakka people in the mountainous areas in Fujian Province.

Dragon and lion dance performances are one of the traditional folk customs during the Spring Festival in Zhangzhou.

"I think these places [are] wonderful, because it had a lot of history here, and thousands of years ago that have [there were] people living here. And for us foreigners, we don't know this kind of things. So it's nice to come to experience with the local people, the local things, the local buildings, architecture and all the magnificent history that have [are] here. So I think it's pretty good to come to these kinds of places," said Quintero Candela Alejandra, a visitor from Colombia.

Xiaonian Festival observed in China in run-up to Chinese Lunar New Year

Xiaonian Festival observed in China in run-up to Chinese Lunar New Year

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Women, children face dire struggles amid ongoing Sudan armed conflict

2025-02-09 17:43 Last Updated At:19:47

The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered a humanitarian crisis, leaving millions in Sudan, especially women and children, struggling with food insecurity, displacement, and violence.

The armed conflict that erupted in Sudan in mid-April 2023 has been ongoing for nearly two years, creating a severe humanitarian disaster in the country. A recent report released by the United Nations indicates that by 2025, more than 15 million women in Sudan will require humanitarian assistance.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)'s report -- "Sudan: Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 - Overview" -- highlights that Sudanese women and children are disproportionately affected by the conflict, facing more acute challenges such as food shortages, survival crises, and the risk of gender-based violence.

The report reveals that approximately 24.6 million people in Sudan are in a state of "severe food insecurity" or worse, with women and children being particularly vulnerable. They face greater difficulties in accessing food, drinking water, healthcare, and ensuring their personal safety.

"Life is so hard. We don't have clean drinking water, and the water supply in grocery stores has also been cut off. We are short of food and water, and we are in despair. The prices of everything are continuously rising," said Sakina Ahmed, a resident.

Due to the severe damage and shortages in healthcare facilities, the situation for pregnant women and newborns in Sudan is dire. According to data from Sudan's Ministry of Health, 295 out of every 100,000 pregnant women die, and 51 out of every 1,000 newborns die.

Additionally, Sudan's education system has been severely disrupted by the conflict. Over 10,000 schools have been closed as a result of the fighting, and more than 90 percent of the 19 million school-age children are unable to access formal education, with girls being particularly affected by school dropouts, the report said.

"I was an eighth-grade student, but because of the conflict, I've been out of school for one year and four months," said Asrar Essam.

According to a statement by the UN resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, the armed conflict, along with the resulting mass displacement of people and widespread food insecurity, has led to a significant increase in gender-based violence, including sexual assaults.

The UN has called on Sudan to establish non-violent response mechanisms and strengthen accountability systems to safeguard the safety and dignity of all vulnerable groups. Most importantly, the UN has emphasized the urgent need to end the armed conflict and restore peace and stability.

Women, children face dire struggles amid ongoing Sudan armed conflict

Women, children face dire struggles amid ongoing Sudan armed conflict

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