Chinese card payment giant China UnionPay and Chinese online payment clearing house NetsUnion Clearing Corporation processed a total of 4.931 billion payment transactions on the eve of the Chinese New Year on Monday, a 21.64-percent increase compared to the same day of last year, data from the People's Bank of China (PBOC) showed.
According to the central bank, the peak period for distributing lucky money in virtual "red envelopes" on WeChat -- the dominant, "all-in-one" Chinese messaging and social media app -- was from 23:50 on Monday to 0:20 on Tuesday, with online payments reaching a record high of 144,700 transactions per second.
Chinese people around the world are currently celebrating the Spring Festival, the most important annual holiday which marks the start of the Chinese New Year, a cherished occasion which symbolizes family reunions and a time for renewal and new beginnings.
Online payments up 21.64 percent on Chinese New Year's eve
The unique experience of watching the China Media Group (CMG) 2026 Spring Festival Gala on planes has turned air travel into a festive gathering, offering passengers "flying festivities".
Onboard flight MU5125 from Shanghai to Beijing, the festive atmosphere was palpable. Decorated with spring couplets and Chinese character "Fu", which means good fortune, the cabin was filled with joy as many passengers used their phones and tablets to stream the gala live, thanks to the free high-speed in-flight WiFi service.
"I really didn't expect watching the Spring Festival Gala on the plane to be so smooth. Once we reached cruising altitude, we connected to the WiFi right away. This experience is truly wonderful," said a passenger surnamed Cao.
Passengers aboard Sichuan Airlines flight 3U6879 also watched the Gala.
The Gala this year features four sub-venues in addition to the main stage in Beijing. Taking the grand show to new locations each year has become a new tradition, shining a spotlight on more of China's varied landscapes and cultural traditions.
A passenger from the sub-venue of Yibin expressed his pride.
"I'm from Yibin, and I was thrilled and amazed to see our city's sub-venue on board," said a passenger named Zhang Bo.
"On the eve of the Chinese New Year, we've created themed flights across all internet-enabled routes so passengers can enjoy the Spring Festival Gala at high altitude, allowing them to feel the festive atmosphere even during their air travels," said Wu Dan, manager of the Cabin Service Department of Sichuan Airlines.
This initiative was launched by CMG in collaboration with several airlines. Around 300 flights from China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines participated, reaching nearly 70,000 travelers.
"To ensure passengers can watch the Spring Festival Gala live at around 10,000 meters high in the sky and celebrate New Year's Eve with friends and family on the ground, we conducted multiple rounds of comprehensive pressure testing and system optimizations (in advance) to guarantee stable and smooth high-speed WiFi on board," said Chen Mengying, a member from China Satellite Communications Co., Ltd.
CMG's Spring Festival gala takes to skies on flight to offer passengers "flying festivities"
