Beijing immersed in rich holiday spirit as Spring Festival approaches

Beijing is filled with jovial cheer ahead of the upcoming Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, with traditional New Year markets upholding time-honored customs and trendy venues bringing fresh celebration styles.

Falling on February 17, this year's Spring Festival marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse in Chinese culture. It is one of the most important holidays in China, celebrated with family reunions and wishes for good luck in the upcoming year.

At the National Agricultural Exhibition Center, the 30th Old Beijing Spring Festival Shopping Festival is bustling with crowds stocking up on New Year goods. Visitors at the event venue can find traditional Chinese delicacies, local specialties, festive ornaments, and exquisite intangible cultural heritage crafts.

The fair brings together hundreds of specialty vendors from across China, as well as from overseas. Inside the exhibition halls, time-honored domestic food brands sit alongside regional specialties. Smoked meats, cured ham, cheese, tea and traditional pastries are on display, with some booths offering free tastings to visitors.

The scenic area of Shichahai -- a historic landmark consisting of three lakes -- offers a different kind of festive experience. A recently opened ice-skating area on one of the lakes has become a major draw, attracting visitors of different ages to enjoy a wide range of leisure facilities, including single and double ice sleds and ice bikes.

Beyond joyful winter activities, visitors can also stroll through the Spring Festival market next to the rink. On offer are traditional Chinese food, cultural and creative products, and a lively festive atmosphere.

"I came here with my friends. I can really feel the strong New Year atmosphere here. I bought some fridge magnets, which symbolize good fortune and prosperity. I also feel the cultural charm of old Beijing here," said Liu Haotian, a visitor.

"The market features 42 booths and a variety of interactive activities. Right beside it lies the Shichahai ice rink on the lake. Together, they present a grand feast that integrates culture, commerce and exhibitions, where 'culture comes alive on ice and festive vibes fill the streets,'" said Gao Yan, promotion director of the Shichahai Ice Rink and Spring Festival Market.

Beijing immersed in rich holiday spirit as Spring Festival approaches

Beijing immersed in rich holiday spirit as Spring Festival approaches

International cruise ships brought more than 8,000 tourists to Shanghai over the past weekend, underscoring the growing momentum of the city's tourism market.

Last Saturday, two cruise ships, the Spectrum of the Seas and Mein Schiff 6, arrived in Shanghai with nearly 6,000 tourists, setting a new single day record for daily inbound arrivals at the city's Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal.

Two more ships, the MSC Magnifica and Adora Magic City, arrived the next day, docking alongside Mein Schiff 6. For the first time this year, the terminal received three cruise ships docked simultaneously.

Impressed by China's customs services, tourists shared their feelings after landing.

"The service is very good, very fast. Everything is very quick," said a tourist.

"We're going to Disneyland. It's a cool trip," another tourist expressed her expectations.

During the two-day period, Shanghai port handled more than 20,000 passenger entries and exits, more than half of which were made by international travelers. Over 90 percent of them are benefiting from the visa-free policies.

"[I traveled from] Chengdu to here. I'm here to Beijing and Beijing to the UK," a tourist talked about his schedule, whose destinations in China all covered in the visa-free policies.

"Very good, excellent policy, and anything that reduces the amount of time. We had a week in ten days in China already, then we're gonna come back into the city to do some shopping," another senior visitor said.

Authorities have also introduced measures to improve the visa process.

"To ensure a smooth entry, officials will get on the ships in advance to perform inspections. So, passengers can start their trips as soon as they disembark. While at the airports, we have also provided an online submission system for arrival cards. That will also save their time," said Zhu Xiaoxiang, Deputy Director of Immigration Inspection Division under Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection.

So far this year, Shanghai's customs and immigration agents have processed more than ten million visitors, with 305,000 international passenger trips through cruise terminals, marking a prosperous tourism market.

Over 8,000 cruise passengers touch down in Shanghai, providing major tourism boost