Colorful celebrations fill China as Year of the Horse begins

Colorful celebrations have been taking place across China to mark the Year of the Horse.

Falling on Tuesday this year, the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is China's most important holiday, marked by family reunions, festive foods and New Year wishes. The official holiday lasts nine days from February 15 to 23

In Beijing's Taoranting Park, a special Chinese New Year garden party has drawn large crowds with its festive scenery, traditional foods, creative products and folk performances.

In Yulin City in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, more than 30 Yangge folk dance troupes from across the country performed with drums, gongs and flowing red ribbons, offering festive blessings for the new year.

In Huzhou City in east China's Zhejiang Province, scenic spots are staging more than 8,000 performances to enrich visitors' cultural experience during the festival.

In Hubei and Fujian, cutting-edge technologies, such as robots and virtual reality, are integrated into traditional festivities, offering people a unique experience. Dance performances featuring both human actors and robots are infusing new vitality into intangible cultural heritage.

"Integrating robotic elements into traditional Chinese culture brings innovation while preserving the authentic festive spirit of Chinese tradition. It truly feels like the atmosphere of Spring Festival," said Yang Ming-hsun, a tourist from China's Taiwan region.

In Tangshan City in north China's Hebei Province, a dazzling sea of lanterns illuminates the night sky, while molten iron fireworks, equestrian shows and acrobatics showcase the unique charm of the traditional festival.

People in Linqing City of east China's Shandong Province also enjoyed a dazzling feast of light along the river to usher in the Chinese New Year.

Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions have recorded a growing number of tourists during the ongoing festival, with inbound visitors exceeding 1.16 million and 998,000, respectively, from February 15 to 20.

Colorful celebrations fill China as Year of the Horse begins

A group of Chinese and U.S. students visited Hebi City in central China’s Henan Province from Thursday to Saturday as part of the "2026 U.S. Youth Pickleball Cultural Exchange Trip to China," a program aimed at fostering cultural connections and mutual understanding beyond the pickleball court.

Running from February 15 to 24, the trip involves over 190 youth participants from both countries engaging in inter-school exchanges, pickleball matches, and cultural visits in four locations, Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, Shangyou in Jiangxi Province, Hebi in Henan Province, and Beijing.

During their stay in Hebi's Xunxian County on Friday, one of China’s oldest walled cities, students participated in traditional activities such as stilt walking and lion dance to celebrate the Spring Festival, gaining firsthand experience of the region's vibrant culture.

"How, you know, we're in a big crowd, we're hootin' and hollerin', and then we step through this gate and it's peace. It's so amazing. It's a sudden change that I've never experienced anywhere else, and for that, it's beautiful," said Ryan Corkery, a U.S. student.

In workshops led by local artisans, participants explored Spring Festival calligraphy and traditional clay sculpture -- intangible cultural heritage crafts passed down through generations in the region.

"Today in Hebi, wow, that’s all I can say. From the grand entrance to seeing the city, to coming and engaging in arts and crafts, having a lunch literally in town and enjoying the local cuisine. It just really allows us to understand the open-up and learn culture," said Dr. Jeffrey Sullivan, director of Systemwide Athletics at Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.

A pickleball match took place on Saturday at a local sports center in Hebi, fostering mutual respect between Chinese and U.S. students through friendly competition.

US, Chinese students connect through pickleball cultural exchange in central China city