New Year’s Eve celebrations unfold across China to welcome 2026

New Year's Eve celebrations unfolded across China as people marked the start of 2026 with a variety of activities, from spectacular horseback galloping to dazzling lantern displays and boisterous temple fairs.

In Zhaosu County of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, thousands of horses galloped across the vast expanse of snow-covered grasslands at a national wetland park on Wednesday to welcome the arrival of the new year. Known for its excellent horses since ancient times, Zhaosu is home to China's largest horse-breeding industry.

As night fell, ice and snow sculptures were illuminated, transforming the wetland park into a dreamlike wonderland. Citizens and tourists strolled through this world of light and shadow, fully enjoying this unique New Year's Eve experience.

"We come here to join many other tourists to cheer for and celebrate the new year. May everyone have a happy new year!" said Li Qilin, a tourist from the warm southern Chinese province of Guangdong.

In Dunhuang City of neighboring Gansu Province, over 1,200 distinctive lanterns lit up the night, including 20 main lanterns that incorporate elements from famous Dunhuang murals, such as flying apsaras, nine-colored deers, and winged horses. and the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. The dazzling display of horse-themed lanterns for the coming Chinese lunar Year of the Horses became a popular spot for shutterbugs.

In Yangzhou City of east China's Jiangsu Province, a fish-shaped lantern parade was staged in a historical and cultural block, allowing citizens and tourists to enjoy delicious food while admiring a mobile lantern show.

In neighboring Zhejiang Province's Shaoxing City, a temple fair was held with diverse intangible cultural heritage displays and a wide array of specialty stalls attracting a large number of crowds.

"During the New Year's Day holiday, I traveled to this ancient town and came across the traditional temple fair. I enjoyed wonderful local opera performances and participated in a grand temple fair parade, experiencing the magical charm of local intangible cultural heritage. It was a great experience!" said Meng Yu, a tourist.

New Year’s Eve celebrations unfold across China to welcome 2026

Impact of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is pushing Gulf countries to revisit costly plans for pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, so that they can continue to export oil and gas, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Thursday.

"Officials and industry executives say new pipelines may be the only way to reduce Gulf countries' enduring vulnerability to disruption in the strait, even though such projects would be expensive, politically complex and take years to complete," said the report.

"Previous plans for pipelines across the region have repeatedly stalled, undone by high costs and complexity," it said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global energy corridor bordered by Iran to the north.

Around a fifth of global liquefied natural gas supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which also carries about one quarter of global seaborne oil trade.

Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, while tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz by restricting passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.

Gulf countries consider new pipelines to avoid Strait of Hormuz: Financial Times