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Nighttime festivities across Chinese cities draw crowds of holidaymakers

China

China

China

Nighttime festivities across Chinese cities draw crowds of holidaymakers

2026-02-22 17:46 Last Updated At:22:37

Many Chinese cities have launched nighttime programs and shows during this year's nine-day Spring Festival holiday, which runs through Feb 23, drawing significant crowds.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, which fell on Feb. 17 this year, is the most important traditional holiday for the Chinese people.

In Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jinling Town, a cultural and tourism spot, has introduced special nighttime events featuring vibrant light displays, traditional dances, and intangible cultural heritage performances, creating a strong festive atmosphere that attracted many visitors.

Known as the "ancient capital of six dynasties," Nanjing has a rich history as the center of various dynasties and kingdoms. It served as the imperial seat of six southern dynasties that ruled southern China from the 3rd to 6th centuries and was the national capital of a unified China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

In Qinhuangdao City, north China's Hebei Province, a Chinese New Year lantern fair has captivated large crowds with dozens of themed light displays and traditional performances, including molten-iron fireworks and fire pot performances.

A spectacular display featuring 1,000 drones and sky lantern releases has added to the night's festivities.

Visitor Li Ziyi expressed her delight, saying, "I didn't expect to see such an amazing light show and performances right in my hometown. It was wonderful, and I'll come back next year."

This year's lantern fair is scheduled to run through March 4, with an expected attendance of more than 200,000.

In Hengshan County, central China's Hunan Province, a stunning drone light show was held at the Hengshandu Scenic Area on Wednesday, drawing large crowds.

Accompanied by festive music, the show began at 20:00, showcasing a variety of auspicious designs. The show beautifully complemented the riverside lights and boat decorations, illuminating the night sky.

Staff reported that these nighttime activities accounted for 40 percent of the scenic area's total revenue during the Spring Festival holiday. The series of events celebrating the Spring Festival will continue until the Lantern Festival on March 3.

Nighttime festivities across Chinese cities draw crowds of holidaymakers

Nighttime festivities across Chinese cities draw crowds of holidaymakers

The ongoing Spring Festival holiday is unfolding across China as a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and festive joy.

Cites and towns nationwide are hosting colorful festivities with traditional culture taking center stage.

In Beijing, the historic Wanping Town turns into an open-air theater, with Peking opera and interactive folk activities entertaining holiday visitors.

Elsewhere, from the inland province of Qinghai to the coastal province of Guangdong, dance parades and folk art showcases featuring distinctive regional traditions are being held to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

This year's Spring Festival has also seen spectacular nighttime events being held from north to south, with people from different regions enjoying a rich variety of activities such as fireworks, lantern displays, evening fairs and dragon lantern parades.

Vibrant cultural activities held across China to celebrate Spring Festival

Vibrant cultural activities held across China to celebrate Spring Festival

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