Chinese people have celebrated the New Year in various ways including distinctive dragon dances and entertaining folk performances.
With rich bamboo resources, Muchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province continued its longstanding tradition of the grass dragon dance, an intangible cultural heritage at the national level.
Crafted from bamboo and straw, this ancient performance dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and symbolizes wishes for favorable weather and bumper harvests.
Meanwhile, residents in Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, celebrated the New Year with a mesmerizing display of sparks, enjoying the cheerful atmosphere brought by Datiehua, or striking iron flowers, and Huohu, or fire pot performance, a dazzling spectacle combining tradition, artistry, and even courage.
A New Year celebration featured a grand cultural event was held in the ancient town of Hancheng City, Shaanxi.
A total of 150 children dressed in festive costumes performed adorable acts that drew applause from the crowd. The powerful rhythms of the drums resonated through the square, with thunderous beats symbolizing strength and vitality.
A large-scale chorus of 200 performers sang patriotic songs like "Ode to the Motherland," expressing heartfelt wishes for the country's prosperity and the pursuit of a better life.
"It's truly inspiring. I hope that in 2026, we will develop at a quicker pace, just like the thunderous drumbeats today. I wish for a prosperous and booming year ahead," said Xue Hong, a spectator.
Chinese people welcome New Year with various activities
Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.
As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.
Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.
A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.
Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.
"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.
The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.
At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.
Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal
