Chinese embassies worldwide host receptions to celebrate Spring Festival, deepen cultural ties

To celebrate the Year of the Snake, Chinese embassies worldwide hosted vibrant Spring Festival receptions, bringing together local dignitaries, business leaders, overseas Chinese, and representatives from various sectors to mark the occasion and strengthen cultural ties.

In Budapest, the Chinese Embassy in Hungary hosted a Spring Festival reception on January 24, welcoming over 600 guests.

The evening featured captivating performances by the Jiangnan Sizhu Orchestra from the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, which played traditional Chinese pieces like "The Dance of the Golden Snake" and "The Melody of Plum Blossoms," capturing the essence of the Spring Festival's spirit of renewal and hope.

"I think it is very fitting for Chinese President Xi Jinping to compare Hungary-China relations to Hungarian Tokaji wine -- fragrant and enduring. I wish all Chinese people happiness, success, and good health," said Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation Balazs Hanko after the reception.

At the Spring Festival reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan, guests experienced the festive spirit through vibrant dragon and lion dances, accompanied by lively folk music performances.

The Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan hosted a Spring Festival reception on January 21, where guests enjoyed magnificent symphony and dance performances.

"The Spring Festival symbolizes unity and prosperity, and we are delighted to witness the remarkable achievements China has made," said Daniyar Amangeldiev, first deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Chinese New Year reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Honduras welcomed numerous Honduran politicians, diplomatic envoys from various countries, and guests from all walks of life.

"We are very happy to participate in this reception, and it is a wonderful experience to share these traditions with our friends at the Chinese Embassy," said Honduran Vice President Doris Gutierrez.

At the Spring Festival reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Cyprus, guests enjoyed a variety of captivating performances and activities, including an intangible cultural heritage experience zone, Bian Lian (face-changing), the Five Animal Play, and traditional folk dances. The event brought attendees together to immerse themselves in the enchanting beauty of Chinese culture.

Chinese embassies in Serbia, Kuwait, Belgium, Denmark, Nicaragua, and other countries also hosted Spring Festival receptions, welcoming government officials, diplomats, business leaders, overseas Chinese, and international students.

This year, the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year's Day, fell on January 29, ushering in the Year of the Snake and marking the first New Year since the festival was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Chinese embassies worldwide host receptions to celebrate Spring Festival, deepen cultural ties

A total of 297.665 million inter-regional passenger trips nationwide were recorded on Saturday, the second day of the five-day May Day holiday this year, transport authorities said on Sunday.

The figure represents a 1.7 percent increase from the same day last year and a 11.8 percent decline from Friday, the first day of the break.

Railway passenger trips rose 1.2 percent from a year ago to 19.781 million, 20.4 percent down the previous day and up 1.2 percent year on year.

A total of 273.86 million road trips were reported on the day, an increase of 1.8 percent year on year, and 11.2 percent less from the previous day.

Among them, commercial passenger trips reached 39.40 million, an increase of 14.9 percent year on year, while non-commercial passenger trips reached 234.46 million, roughly the same as the previous year.

The waterways handled 2.096 million trips, marking a 1.3 percent decline year on year.

The civil aviation passenger trips stood at 1.928 million, down 11 percent from the previous year.

China's postal sector collected 474 million parcels, up 6.3 percent from the previous day, and delivered 493 million parcels, down 4.6 percent from the previous day.

The May Day holiday, running from May 1 to 5, is typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year. During this time, millions of Chinese passengers hit the road to visit family or go traveling.

Holiday Day 2 sees 297.665 mln passenger trips