A variety of colorful cultural events, from New Year fairs to intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, are unfolding in Beijing to usher in the Spring Festival, which falls on Jan 29 this year.
Around the Shichahai Lake, a popular scenic spot in Beijing, rows of booths at the Spring Festival fair offer everything from exquisite cultural and creative products to traditional folk art displays, drawing many residents and tourists to stop and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
"This is my first time in China to see the Spring Festival. I can see a lot of people moving around and so many colorful things. I also know this year is the Year of the Snake, so I know it's going to be a wonderful year," said a foreign tourist.
The nighttime view at the Shichahai fair is no less stunning, featuring a dazzling hundred-meter-long light canopy above the market promenade and a dreamlike light show on the small island in the lake.
In addition to the outdoor fair, a large indoor exhibition themed with the Spring Festival is underway in Beijing. The exhibition displays hundreds of intangible cultural heritage projects and items related to this significant event, giving visitors a chance to learn more about festival folk traditions from across China.
The entire exhibition hall has been transformed into a space of a traditional temple fair highlighting intangible cultural heritage. Visitors can engage in activities like guessing riddles on lanterns, writing Spring couplets, and watching performances by inheritors of traditional arts.
A notable feature is the cloth-paste painting, recognized as a type of national intangible cultural heritage of the Manchu ethnic group from north China's Hebei Province. The handcrafted cloth-paste painting bags have won the hearts of many visitors at the exhibition, making the "good-luck bags" a popular choice for New Year gifts.
On the outskirts of Beijing, a captivating lantern art festival is underway, featuring over 10,000 lanterns made in Zigong, a city in southwest China's Sichuan Province with a rich history of lantern making. The festival also offers various cultural tourism products and experiences, adding to the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival season.
Cultural events unfold in Beijing to celebrate upcoming Spring Festival
