Performers of 2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala share excitement, blessings

Performers of the 2025 Spring Festival Gala staged by China Media Group (CMG) expressed their excitement and heartfelt blessings for a prosperous new year.

The annual gala, also known as "Chunwan" in Chinese, was staged on Tuesday.

First broadcast back in 1983, it is seen as a major cultural symbol for the traditional Spring Festival celebrations in China.

Themed "Year of the Snake, Keep Your Spirit Awake," the hours-long television show featured a dazzling array of singing and dancing, opera, comedy sketches, martial arts and other performances, offering an audiovisual feast to viewers tuning in from around the world.

The Spring Festival, or the start of a Chinese New Year, fell on Wednesday this year, ushering in the Year of the Snake.

It marks the first celebration since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed the festival on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December last year.

Tan Weiwei, a renowned singer, shared her joy over the global recognition of the Chinese heritage, wishing all viewers a fulfilling and prosperous new year.

"More people are learning about our Spring Festival and the deep emotional connection it holds for the Chinese people, which brings great joy to all of us. The Spring Festival Gala is as inseparable from our New Year celebrations as the Spring Festival's Eve feast. On this special evening, we hope to send blessings to everyone, wishing for a prosperous year ahead and joyful reunions with loved ones. The gala carries profound symbolic meanings," she said.

Zhong Chuxi, an actress performing at the gala for the first time, expressed her excitement, highlighting the joy of sharing the stage with so many talented colleagues and friends.

"I'm extremely excited this year -- it's my first time at the Spring Festival Gala, and the gala feels grand. I met so many talented performers and exceptional individuals from all walks of life backstage. It's an honor to stand on this stage with everyone and share our performance with the audience. I'm truly happy," Zhong shared.

Fish Leong, a Malaysian singer, also expressed her excitement, praising the passion and professionalism of the director team.

"I'm so excited! We've had so many rehearsals. I'm thrilled to see that the entire production team handled every detail of the gala with great enthusiasm," Leong said.

Performers of 2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala share excitement, blessings

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.

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