Spring-themed song brings warmth to viewers at Spring Festival Gala

A gentle yet lively song, dubbed "Lichun", enchanted audiences as the China Media Group (CMG)'s widely anticipated 2026 Spring Festival Gala got underway on Monday evening with a flowing melody and poetic images of nature.

In China, the first of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar is called the day of "Lichun," or the "Beginning of Spring," which is seen as the start of the promising season full of hope.

The song captures the essence of the season through imagery of raindrops trickling down rooftops and seeds bursting forth, symbolizing the vitality of nature and the promise of a new season filled with growth and light.

Ten talented singers and actresses dressed in pink graced the stage like blooming flowers in spring. Their vocal brought warmth to audiences.

Upholding the creative philosophy of integrating "ideas, art and technology," the gala continues to push the boundaries of artistic expression. Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and extended reality are used extensively in stage design, creating immersive, three-dimensional visuals where performers and scenery interact dynamically.

The traditional Chinese calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms, starting with Lichun which usually begins around Feb 4 and ends around Feb 18.

The 24 solar terms, including Lichun, were added to the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.

In the current era of technology-driven modern farming, traditional solar terms remain relevant, especially in the Chinese cultural and social life. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday for the Chinese people, and watching the Spring Festival Gala, also known as "Chunwan," is a cherished part of the celebrations every year in hundreds of millions of Chinese homes.

Since first being broadcast in 1983, the gala has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program on the planet.

The Spring Festival itself was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The 2026 Spring Festival falls on Tuesday this year, ushering in the Year of the Horse.

Spring-themed song brings warmth to viewers at Spring Festival Gala

Spring-themed song brings warmth to viewers at Spring Festival Gala

A group of AI humanoid robots amused audiences as they performed comedic roles in a special sketch during the China Media Group (CMG)'s 2026 Spring Festival Gala televised on Monday.

The robots interacted with human actors in a comedy sketch titled "Grandma's Favorite", which tenderly portrays the warmth and affection between a grandmother and her grandchild in a playful interaction.

The robots delighted the audience by taking part in the jokes, showing off some magic tricks and even performing daring backflips on stage.

The sketch also showed the impressive life-like qualities and increasing dexterity of the humanoid robots during the family-themed skit.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday for the Chinese people, and watching the Spring Festival Gala, also known as "Chunwan," is a cherished part of the celebrations every year in hundreds of millions of Chinese homes.

Since first being broadcast in 1983, the gala has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program on the planet.

Just over a year ago, the Spring Festival itself was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The 2026 Spring Festival falls on Tuesday this year, ushering in the Year of the Horse.

Humanoid robots perform comedy sketch at China's Spring Festival Gala