A relocated village in east China's Shandong Province staged a variety of vibrant festive activities on the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, to celebrate the grand festival and wish for a good start to a brand-new year.
Last year, over 600 households of Weijiazhuang Village bid farewell to their old homes and moved into new apartments under village renovation and urban renewal projects.
During the Spring Festival, villagers spontaneously organize performances of traditional programs such as lion dance, waist drum performance, and yangko dance, to celebrate the new year.
On Tuesday, performers, dressed in brightly colored costumes, waved colorful ribbons and performed folk dance in a parade to bring New Year's blessings to viewers.
"This is the first Spring Festival we spend here. In the new year, I wish everyone great wealth and good fortune. A new home, a new year, a new life -- I feel especially at ease and happy!" said Xu Yanli, a villager.
At the event, many villagers, especially those of younger age, happily wrote down their new year resolution on notes, to wish for a good year ahead.
Eastern Chinese village holds folk activities to celebrate Spring Festival
Eastern Chinese village holds folk activities to celebrate Spring Festival
The Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, was marked in Cape Town, South Africa's legislative capital, where the city's Chinese and local communities came together for a day of festivities at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, one of Cape Town's landmarks.
As part of the celebration, the local and Chinese communities showcased their talents in arts and crafts at a day-long market. The festivities featured a range of activities, including fan-making, Chinese character calligraphy, and traditional food, offering visitors a vibrant taste of Spring Festival traditions.
One of the highlights of the celebration was a lively quiz competition, where members of the local communities tested their skills by speaking simple Mandarin phrases and answering challenging questions about Chinese culture. Winners walked away with prizes, adding an interactive edge to the festivities.
"So what we're trying to do is we're trying to bring the real atmosphere of celebration of the Chinese New Year to the people of Cape Town, and even to a large extent, to the people of South Africa. Gradually, more and more people fall in love with Chinese culture. [This is] especially also [evident] at different universities, where you see students start learning Chinese, speak Mandarin, and they learn to write in Chinese, especially Chinese calligraphy," said Dong Gang, director of the Cape Town Huaxing Arts Troupe.
"This year marks our fourth year. We have been holding the Cape Town Chinese New Year event for four years. Many friends in China say that the Cape Town Chinese New Year event is more festive than events back home. We think we've done a really good job. So we're very happy to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Cape Town," said Wu Zhimin, a member of the Cape Town Huaxing Arts Troupe.
The event reflects the growing cultural exchange between the two countries, according to the organizer.
Chinese New Year celebrated in South Africa's Cape Town
