Over 400 mountain climbing activities were staged across China, accompanied by other mass sports events over the New Year holiday, as people like to embrace the new year with best wishes by ascending a height.
In Tai'an City of east China's Shandong Province, the morning buzzed with excitement at the Hongmen Square of Mount Tai.
Over 3,000 fitness enthusiasts from across the country participated in the mountain climbing activity, while more than 20,000 spectators spontaneously joined the ascent along the route. Additionally, online participants surpassed 100,000, creating a nationwide wave of enthusiasm.
"I want to mark the first day of the New Year by climbing Mount Tai. May our country enjoy prosperity and our people live in peace and prosperity, and may our country have a bright future," said Guo Weifeng, a local resident.
"We are from Beijing. Participating in the mountain climbing activity on the first day of the new year is very meaningful to us," said Xiong Zijian, a visitor from Beijing.
On New Year's Day, over 1,000 residents ascended the Oriental Pearl Tower, a landmark building in Shanghai's financial hub of Lujiazui. The event is held annually as people choose to begin their new year by ascending a height, hoping that the tradition will bless them with good luck in the coming 12 months.
"I hope to achieve success in my studies this year," said Wang Mengmeng, a participant.
"On the very first day of the year, I came to the Oriental Pearl Tower for this climb. I wish good health for my family and smooth progress in my work," said Huang Yingnian, another participant.
People embrace New Year through sports in China
China's railways are predicted to handle 12.6 million passenger trips on Friday, the second day of the New Year holiday, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.
Railway authorities have scheduled 785 additional passenger trains across the country on Friday to accommodate the increased travel demand.
The group said that the national railway system handled a total of 18.56 million passenger trips in a safe and orderly manner on the New Year's Day, which was anticipated as the busiest day of the five-day holiday travel rush running from Dec 31, 2025 to Jan 4, 2026.
Major rail travel hubs are no less bustling on Friday. The Yangtze River Delta railway network is primarily serving essential travel needs such as tourism, family visits, and commuting, with an estimated 2.65 million passenger trips to be transported.
In the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, cross-border passenger traffic is surging, with an expected 300,000 cross-border passenger trips during the New Year holiday -- a year-on-year increase of 30 percent.
In southwest China's Chengdu-Chongqing region, the Chengdu Railway Bureau has planned to operate over 1,000 pairs of passenger trains on Friday, anticipating to handle 1.6 million trips.
Heavy snow has affected railway transportation in the central regions of China. In Hubei Province, the Xiangyang Locomotive Depot of China Railway Wuhan Bureau has intensified inspections and maintenance of critical components such as braking systems and the high-voltage equipment on electric locomotive roofs.
The snowfall has turned Qinling Mountains into a fairytale winter wonderland, making it a more popular destination among Chinese holidaymakers. To cope with the increased demand for railway service, the China Railway Xi'an Bureau has strengthened support at key stations along the mountains.
In Henan Province, railway stations have upgraded their dining areas to ensure that passengers have access to warm food and hot water during temperature drops.
China's railway trips expected to maintain high level on 2nd day of New Year break
