A wave of Chinese New Year festivities -- including vibrant traditional dragon and lion dance performances -- has swept through streets of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), drawing global tourists and local residents together to ring in the Chinese New Year.
Traditional dragon and lion dances, as a vital part of Macao's intangible cultural heritage, are among the most beloved folk performances during the Spring Festival -- bringing joy and good fortune to the SAR.
"Dragon and lion dances are not only a traditional Chinese cultural treasure but also an integral part of Macao's intangible cultural heritage. I hope these performances can bring blessings and happiness to everyone in the New Year -- and may our motherland grow ever more prosperous," said Li Haocheng, a lion dance performer.
"Happy New Year! The festive atmosphere here is absolutely wonderful. I've taken my kid out to soak it all in -- the dragon and lion dances, the street performances. Wishing our motherland continued prosperity and Macao's economy even brighter days ahead," said a Macao resident.
Nowhere are the celebrations more electrifying than in front of the A-Ma Temple, a temple dedicated to the sea-goddess Mazu. To the rhythmic beat of drums and cymbals, vibrant lions leap and golden dragons weave through the crowds, drawing throngs of residents and tourists to stop and watch.
"The Spring Festival vibe this year is incredible -- it's drawing visitors from all over the world. There are just so many activities, and everyone seems to be having a blast. You can really feel how happy people are here, how high the quality of life is. We owe so much of that to our motherland's support. I wish our motherland ever-growing prosperity," said a Macao resident.
"It's my first time in China -- in Macao too. It's very interesting to see all the activities and parties during this Spring Festival. So, I'm very happy to be here and I wish you a Happy New Year," said a Portuguese tourist.
Macao celebrates Spring Festival with various folk activities
China's Spring Festival, the country's most cherished holiday for family reunions, is increasingly becoming a magnet for international visitors, with international flight bookings rising sharply.
As a cultural powerhouse in its own right, the Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, with its rich traditions and immersive experiences, is cementing China's status as a must-visit global destination.
China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) forecasts that the average daily number of inbound and outbound travelers nationwide will surpass 2.05 million during the Spring Festival holiday, up 14.1 percent year on year.
Driven by the country's visa-free policy and consumption-incentive measures, both inbound and outbound tourism is expected to grow during the nine-day holiday period beginning Sunday, the NIA said.
At the Beijing International Airport, the arriving visitors shared their excitement about discovering China's diverse landscapes and hospitality.
"I'm here for almost 6 months, so I will go to almost every province if possible. Hopefully I [can go] to Xi'an, of course, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Shanghai, maybe other places as well," said a tourist from Germany.
"I go to Hainan because everybody that travels in China should be there at least once, right? And also the seafood is very famous," said a tourist from South America.
Data from Fliggy, a leading online travel platform shows that over the past two weeks, flight bookings by international travelers for the Spring Festival period have quadrupled compared to last year. Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Chengdu top the list of the most popular first-entry cities.
"I think it's pretty cool. It's totally different from like Europe or anything else I've ever seen. I haven't seen enough, to be honest, but I do love the food, I do love the culture. I think you guys are very united and there's a big community in China for sure. I definitely have to travel back and like get to know it better and see other cities, which I'm very excited about," said a tourist from Switzerland fresh from a trip in Beijing.
China sees surge in Int'l arrival during Spring Festival as global travelers embrace cultural festivities
