Cities and towns around China are holding vibrant celebrations for the Spring Festival that begins on Tuesday.
In Xiangyang of central China's Hubei Province, thousands of lanterns are lit up in the night sky above the ancient cit, with their glow reflecting on the Hanjiang River as crowds cheer below.
In Xihe, an old town of east China's Anhui Province with over 600 years of history, residents parade every night these days in the shape of a 110-meter-long dragon made of 37 sets of lanterns.
In Dazhou of southwest China's Sichuan Province, burning dragon celebrations, an intangible cultural heritage of the city combining dragon dance and fireworks, are held on ancient streets. This year's celebrations also include drones shaped like dragons soaring overhead and molten iron sparked against the dark sky.
Jining of east China's Shandong Province has staged a grand Spring Festival show featuring traditional art performances and robots performing ancient drums.
In Huating of northwest China's Gansu Province, villages are staging colorful celebrations including lion dances, dragon dances, traditional drama and other folk art activities.
And in Kashgar of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a massive nine-meter spring couplet on the city gate greet visitors to the ancient city, its characters celebrating the enduring spirit of the historic city on the Silk Road.
This years' Spring Festival falls on Feb 17, ushering in the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
Spring Festival celebrations across China
China's aircraft carrier Fujian has been steadily moving from initial combat readiness toward full operational capability over the past year since its commissioning.
Commissioned at a naval port in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province on Nov 5 last year, the Fujian is China's first domestically designed and built electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier, bringing the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy into a three-carrier era.
With trials and training moving forward steadily, the Fujian has registered a series of landmark milestones along its journey.
It was launched and named on June 17, 2022, making China one of a handful of countries worldwide capable of building large aircraft carriers.
From May 1 to 8, 2024, the Fujian completed its maiden sea trial. Tests on its power, electrical and other systems and equipment met expectations.
On Sept 12, 2025, a naval spokesperson confirmed the Fujian had sailed through the Taiwan Strait to carry out scientific research, tests and training in relevant waters of the South China Sea.
Ten days later, China released footages showing the J-15T, J-35 and KJ-600 warplanes completing their first catapult takeoff and landing training aboard the Fujian, marking a major breakthrough in the verification of its electromagnetic catapult system.
On Nov 5, 2025, the carrier was formally commissioned at a commissioning and flag-presenting ceremony in Sanya.
Just 13 days after commissioning, the Fujian battle group conducted its first maritime live-force training, during which carrier-based aircraft including the J-35, J-15T, J-15DT and KJ-600 carried out electromagnetic catapult takeoffs and landings. The drills also covered battle group navigation and joint ship-aircraft search and rescue.
2026 is a critical year for the carrier's full transition from initial operational capability to full operational capability. The Fujian has completed electromagnetic catapult takeoff and landing drills for the J-35, J-15T and KJ-600, and staged multiple live-force training exercises across different sea areas.
China's aircraft carrier Fujian marks one year in service, moving toward full combat capability
