Colorful activities, such as temple fairs and light shows, have been held in cities across the world to welcome the Chinese New Year.
The Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, falls on Wednesday this year, ushering in the Year of the Snake.
In Brussels, Belgium, the Chinese embassy held a Spring Festival fair at the Cinquantenaire Park on Saturday, displaying Chinese New Year paintings and staging Peking Opera performances.
Screens were also set up to play the China Media Group's promotional video for the 2025 Spring Festival Gala television broadcast, a major cultural symbol for Spring Festival celebrations in China.
"I'm very happy to be here to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The link between Belgium, Brussels and China are very important. So Happy New Year to all China and Chinese people," said Rudi Vervoort, minister-president of the Brussels-Capital Region.
The headquarters building of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome, Italy has been illuminated by red lights and decorations.
Senior officials at the organization and representatives from various member countries gathered at a reception in the building last Thursday to celebrate the festival and its inclusion on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
"I want to extend my warmest wishes on behalf of all of us at the Food and Agriculture Organization for this very special celebration," said Beth Bechdol, deputy director-general of FAO.
In Athens, Greece, the Municipal Theater of Piraeus has been decorated with red lanterns and Chinese knots.
Inside the theater, Chinese and Greek artists staged their respective classics, such as Kunqu Opera "The Legend of the White Snake" and Greek song "The Children of Piraeus".
In Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, the headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia has been turned in to a creative canvas to present a light show in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
At the city's Meskel Square, the promotional video of the 2025 Spring Festival Gala was played on giant screens to spread some New Year joy.
In Havana, Cuba, the first Spring Festival temple fair opened on Saturday, presenting dragon and lion dances and traditional Chinese costume shows.
The fair also featured a cultural exhibition, where Cuban people could experience calligraphy, paper cutting and tea art, and keep the works as New Year gifts.
In Sao Paulo, Brazil, a flash mob took to the streets with dragon and lion dances, folk songs and dances, and martial arts performances.
Colorful Chinese New Year celebrations held in cities around world
