Chinese New Year celebrated across world

The Chinese New Year, which starts with the Spring Festival, was celebrated across the world on Saturday, featuring lively performances that created a festive atmosphere.

In Melbourne, Australia, the local Chinese community organized a grand celebration filled with the sounds of drums and crowds cheering.

Food stalls that offered Chinese delicacies captivated many visitors.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the event and expressed his wish to see stronger ties between Australia and China.

"And with Chinese New Year, and Lunar New Year celebrations right around our great country, families, friends and communities are coming together to share what is centuries of tradition. We gather to welcome the Year of the Snake, in the spirit of joy, surrounded by vibrant color and energy," he said.

Overseas Chinese in Paris hosted a temple fair to celebrate UNESCO's recognition of the Spring Festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At the event, local residents experienced the festive spirit of the Chinese New Year as lion dance performers captivated the public with their lively and unique performance in celebration.

"Happy Chinese New Year to you all. Last year marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, ushering in a new decade of positivity," said Xavier Bertrand, president of the regional council of Hauts-de-France.

In Cape Town, South Africa, the Chinese New Year 2025 celebration presented local audiences and foreign visitors with a rich cultural feast infused with a Spring Festival atmosphere.

Thousands gathered at the bustling Victoria and Alfred Waterfront for a festive gala, immersing themselves in music, performances and cultural displays.

Vibrant red lanterns swayed against the clear blue skies, bringing the legislative capital of South Africa to life with the joyous atmosphere of the Spring Festival.

"I really love the Chinese culture and I'm also learning how to speak Chinese," said a local resident.

In London, dancers performed traditional Chinese lion dances in the Chinatown district to celebrate the Year of the Snake.

These lions made their way from restaurant to restaurant and from business to business, offering blessings and prosperity for the year ahead.

Business owners came out, greeted the performers and offered some food in return for the blessings bestowed upon them for the coming year.

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Spring Festival fell on Jan. 29 this year, marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake. The snake is the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, representing wisdom, intuition, and strategic growth.

Chinese New Year celebrated across world

A chick of the Eurasian eagle owl, a species under second-class state protection in China, was rescued recently by a border police officer in Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

While on patrol, the officer spotted the young owl lying helpless under a tree by the roadside. The chick, covered in soft yellowish-brown down, was unable to fly.

Worrying that the little bird might be injured or starved after falling from the tree, the officer gently took it back to the police station. Following guidance from wildlife experts, the chick was fed with water and meat to help it regain strength.

After fully recovered, the young Eurasian eagle owl was successfully released back into the wild.

The Eurasian eagle owl is one of the largest species of owls. It can be found in habitats as diverse as northern coniferous forests to the edge of vast deserts.

Rare baby Eurasian eagle owl rescued in northwest China's Xinjiang