Overseas Chinese in US eagerly anticipate upcoming Spring Festival Gala

The overseas Chinese in the United States are eagerly looking forward to the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, a grand celebration presented by the China Media Group (CMG), as the world's most watched TV show remains a major highlight of the festival.

Since 1983, the Spring Festival Gala has become the annual fixture for Chinese families on the Chinese New Year's Eve. which falls on February 16 this year, as Chinese people worldwide celebrate the Spring Festival, the most important Chinese festival centering on family reunions.

Known as "Chunwan," the gala always showcases a mix of performances, from music, comedy and traditional arts like opera and martial arts to spectacular acts such as magic and acrobatics.

Chen Jianrong, who immigrated to the United States in 1984 and now serves as the president of the United Overseas Fujianese Association of America, said that the Spring Festival Gala makes him feel closer to the motherland.

"I hope this year's gala will have a stronger sci-tech sense. For example, AI (artificial intelligence), which is very popular right now. They can use AI to present more elements of traditional Chinese art," said Chen.

Chen Zhaoyin, a resident of Long Island in New York and a council member of the China Overseas Friendship Association, said that watching the annual Spring Festival Gala has become an important ritual for his family.

"We have three generations living here. Every year we try to clear our schedules early so the whole family can watch the Spring Festival Gala together. We want to encourage the next generation to carry forward this good custom of celebrating the Chinese New Year and watching the Gala. It's a way to help more children born and raised in the United States come to know our Chinese culture," he said.

Chen Yun, who has lived in New York for many years and serves as the president of the New York Asian Women Group, said that the part where the hosts of the Gala give New Year's greetings specifically to overseas Chinese moves her the most.

"For us Chinese sons and daughters, the Spring Festival Gala is the moment when we are on the same frequency as our motherland," she said.

Overseas Chinese in US eagerly anticipate upcoming Spring Festival Gala

Striking natural phenomena are currently on display in different parts of China, as changing temperatures create unique and beautiful landscapes. In Xinjiang, a frozen lake has displayed massive "star" patterns, while in Shanxi, the famous Hukou Waterfall has re-emerged from its icy winter slumber.

In Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Saixi Lake is presenting a rare spectacle dubbed the "Star of the Ice Lake."

A combination of low temperatures, snowfall, and the local topography has created the stunning view. Water from beneath the frozen surface has seeped through cracks in the ice, spreading out over a thin layer of snow. This process has generated giant, star-like patterns across the lake.

Adding to the scene's mystique, another part of the lake remains unfrozen due to geothermal heat. Here, the collision of the lake's average water temperature of 28 degrees Celsius with the sub-zero air, which has dipped below minus 10 degrees Celsius, creates a misty effect over the water's surface.

Meanwhile, in border areas between Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, the mighty Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River is once again showcasing its spectacular cascade as ice gradually melts with rising temperatures.

As downstream water levels have receded, the drop between the upper and lower sections of the waterfall has increased to approximately 20 meters, amplifying its grandeur.

The powerful flow of the waterfall, set against the backdrop of remaining snow and ice on the riverbanks, has created a unique and picturesque scene characteristic of the seasonal transition.

Natural wonders emerge across China as seasons shift