Chinese diplomatic missions, UN office hold receptions to celebrate Spring Festival

Chinese diplomatic missions around the world and the United Nation office in Switzerland's Geneva have held a series of receptions to celebrate the Spring Festival at the start of the Chinese New Year, which falls on Tuesday, immersing participants in colorful cultural events.

The United Nations office in Geneva on Feb. 10 celebrated the Chinese New Year with an event promoting Chinese culture and multilateralism.

It gathered about 600 permanent representatives from across the world and heads of international organizations.

"Honestly, I find that calligraphy, even after a day of work, provides a moment of respite. It's relaxing, good for both mind and body, and leaves you feeling much calmer. It's a mental exercise. Of course, I've also traveled to China, and it's clear that Chinese culture also interests me," said Patrizia Breitenstein, a staff member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), when experiencing Chinese calligraphy at the event.

The reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in the United States on Feb. 10 in Washington D.C. gathered around 700 attendees, including political figures, diplomats, and international organization representatives.

The reception held on Feb. 11 at the Chateau de Chantilly in northern France was co-hosted by the Hauts-de-France regional authorities and the Chinese Embassy in France, offering both Chinese and French guests a feast of cultural performance.

"The horse of fire is a good symbol, which represents the force, energy and endurance of horse. I think this well symbolizes the relations between France and China," said Xavier Bertrand, Hauts-de-France regional president, in referring to the 2026 Chinese New Year, which is a Year of the Horse -- the seventh of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. More specifically, 2026 is a Year of the Fire Horse, which is viewed as a year of optimism and opportunity. On Feb. 6, the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia hosted the 2026 Chinese New Year reception in Kuala Lumpur, gathering over a thousand guests to celebrate the arrival of the Chinese New Year.

The attending guests wished prosperity to both China and Malaysia, saying they expect the friendship between the two countries to remain fresh.

On Feb 4,. the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan held a Spring Festival reception, involving about 600 attendees, including diplomats and representatives from Chinese-invested companies, in colorful performance.

The reception held by the Chinese Embassy in Colombia on Feb. 10 in Bogota featured festive programs such as traditional dragon dance, lion dance, and calligraphy exhibitions.

Chinese diplomatic missions, UN office hold receptions to celebrate Spring Festival

Chinese and foreign martial artists enthusiasts were seen performing distinctive Kung Fu moves against the backdrop of numerous famous mountains and stunning scenic spots across China, playing their part in ushering in the Year of the Horse on Tuesday.

The video segment was screened during the China Global Television Network (CGTN) Super Night, which was broadcast alongside the China Media Group (CMG)'s 2026 Spring Festival Gala on Monday on the eve of the Chinese New Year.

The sequence, titled "China Cultural Passport", showcased the talents of several accomplished martial artists from China and around the world, as they practiced a host of captivating Kung Fu skills as part of the CGTN Super Night.

The special feature invited viewers to embark on a journey across China's breathtaking scenery and reimagine the soundtracks of the RPG computer game "Arknights" through Chinese martial arts.

Every motion made echoes the landscape, and every vista is a masterpiece of Chinese heritage. From the cloud-shrouded elegance of Mount Emei to the iron-willed strength of the Shaolin Temple, the video shows the connection between these age-old movements and the towering landscapes from where these renowned martial arts practices are born.

Set against a pulsating soundtrack, it displayed the flowing elegance of Wudang Tai Chi and the mysterious ferocity of Meishan arts, before returning to the more balancing and health-enhancing movements of Baduanjin at Beijing's Temple of Heaven.

The Spring Festival Gala, or "Chunwan", is an annual TV extravaganza staged and broadcast by the China Media Group (CMG) on the eve of the Chinese New Year, and is seen as essential part of the Spring Festival celebrations.

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

Chinese, foreign martial artists perform in special TV program to usher in Year of Horse