Urumqi, the capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, hosted a Shehuo parade on Thursday to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival which will fall on March 3.
The event used a float parade to connect various shows of Shehuo, a type of traditional Chinese folk art.
The Shehuo parade, a time-honored performance enjoying widespread popularity in rural areas across China, originated from ancient sacrificial activities to pray for a good harvest about 2,000 years ago.
Eighteen folk performance troupes, comprising some 2,500 performers, took part in the parade.
Traditional performances such as drumming, yangko folk dance, dragon and lion dances drew numerous residents and tourists to watch.
"Seeing these performances today makes me especially happy and excited," said a local resident.
"This time, we've infused the traditional Shehuo folk culture with the joyful atmosphere and rhythms of Xinjiang wedding customs, creating such cheerful and lively ambiance," said a performer.
"The biggest highlight is the addition of a float parade. This parade integrates our folk teams' performances, showcasing both the dynamic and static beauty of Shehuo folk culture to the public," said Shi Zhongming, director of the Urumqi Cultural Center.
Urumqi holds parade to celebrate Lantern Festival
The White House Office of Management and Budget released its 2027 budget proposal on Friday, which would raise U.S. defense spending to 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars while reducing funding for domestic programs.
The budget plan "builds on the president's vision by continuing to constrain non-defense spending and reform the federal government," according to a document published on the White House website.
At a White House event on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the defense spending as a priority, noting that domestic responsibilities such as health care should be shifted to the states.
"We're fighting wars. We can't take care of day care. You got to let a state take care of day care, and they should pay for it, too," Trump said.
Aside from cuts to health programs, the White House budget proposal also includes cuts to refugee resettlement aid, renewable energy projects, university grants and housing programs, among others.
The president's annual budget is often seen as a reflection of the administration's priorities, though Congress ultimately holds the authority over federal spending.
The release of the White House 2027 budget proposal came as Congress remains deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, with Democrats pushing for immigration enforcement reforms that Republicans refuse to accept. This led to a partial government shutdown that has stretched on for nearly seven weeks.
White House seeks 1.5 trillion USD in defense spending in 2027 budget proposal
