Elderly writer gains inspiration at "down-to-earth" Spring Festival Gala rehearsal

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Seventy-year-old author Wang Yuzhen, whose heartfelt memoirs about her late husband have moved millions of readers, was invited to attend a rehearsal of the CMG's 2026 Spring Festival Gala on Sunday, where she experienced the festive atmosphere firsthand.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday for the Chinese people, and watching the live broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala on the eve of the Spring Festival is a cherished part of the celebrations in hundreds of millions of Chinese homes.

During the fourth rehearsal of the Spring Festival Gala, the event's outreach program "Spring Festival Gala Is Waiting for You" has been inviting representatives from the public to take seats in the audience and experience the festive atmosphere of the country's most-watched cultural event.

Among them is Wang, a retired teacher from north China's Hebei Province, who wrote about her late husband a little over a year ago. 

The touching story soon drew widespread attention online, and her works were later compiled into a book and published.

Wang said that the festive spirit at the gala rehearsal provided her with inspiration to continue writing.

"Watching it live on site, I felt it was truly wonderful. There was a sense of grandeur, like thousands of horses galloping forward, and at the same time there was the calmness and gentle beauty of the grasslands. The programs I watched included themes related to agriculture and industry, and they felt very down-to-earth," said Wang.

"After watching the Spring Festival Gala rehearsal, I will go back and immediately write an article to share my feelings with my online followers. I will also incorporate what I experienced and felt today into my future writing and literary works," added the author.

The "Spring Festival Gala Is Waiting for You" initiative will continue to invite inspiring members of the public to step closer to the gala stage, as people across the country prepare to welcome the Year of the Horse.

This year's gala will be broadcast live around the world in a week.

Elderly writer gains inspiration at "down-to-earth" Spring Festival Gala rehearsal

Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin attended the opening ceremony of the 25th Winter Olympic Games on Friday in Milan, Italy, upon invitation.

Ahead of the ceremony, Shen held a cordial conversation with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping, and wished the Games a great success. She also thanked the Italian side for its arrangements in hosting the Chinese sports delegation.

Mattarella asked Shen to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi, said he hopes that Chinese athletes will achieve excellent results at the Games, and thanked the Chinese government for its valuable support for Italy's hosting of the Winter Olympics.

On Saturday, Shen met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry. Shen said China is willing to deepen the high-level cooperation with the IOC, so as to promote world peace and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity through sports.

For her part, Coventry thanked the Chinese government for its firm support and significant contribution to the Olympic cause. Meanwhile, she expressed hope for continued close cooperation with China to carry forward the Olympic spirit and inject more positive energy into the current turbulent world.

Chinese state councilor attends opening ceremony of Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics