Vienna marks Chinese New Year with parade as Chinese tourists grow

Vienna recently held the first Spring Festival parade, briefly turning the city's largest shopping mall into a festive hub where visitors joined drum performances and martial arts demonstrations.

The parade was welcomed by residents in the Austrian capital.

"Celebrations and parties are very popular, which fits in well with consumer culture. That's why it's so well received here," said Christian, a Vienna resident.

Celebration of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, also took place at one of Vienna's most prestigious addresses -- the Hotel Imperial, with lion dances performed in its lobby.

"Obviously, the lion dance is something spectacular, and we do this in our lobby, and I think it's important for the whole world to do this. For example, when I lived in Hong Kong, a lot of hotels did Oktoberfest. It brings the world together," said Thomas van Opstal, General Manager at Hotel Imperial.

The hotel manager even prepared red envelopes filled with coins, in line with Chinese New Year tradition. Besides creating an exotic atmosphere for European guests, this marketing campaign is especially tailored for tourists from China.

"We're trying more and more to attract Chinese visitors. It's a fantastic market. Obviously, the Chinese like to travel," said van Opstal.

Hotels and businesses in Vienna are attracting more Chinese visitors beyond the Spring Festival period, as Chinese tourists have become the city's fastest-growing group, with arrivals last autumn nearly doubling from a year earlier, though numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels.

Tourist arrivals also depend on the number of flight connections, which, according to van Opstal should be expanded.

"I was just recently in Asia for a sales trip. And the feedback that I got is that it's difficult to get seats on the aircraft," said van Opstal.

China Eastern Airlines recently announced a new direct flight from the central Chinese city of Xi'an to the Austrian capital, which is set to boost tourism.

Vienna marks Chinese New Year with parade as Chinese tourists grow

Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.

As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.

Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.

A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.

Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.

"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.

The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.

At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.

Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal