Henan television's Spring Festival gala blends tech and tradition

Another program will be of young celebrities performing pop songs with elements of quyi (a collection of storytelling, cross-talk and other spoken art forms) in tribute to the Majie Quyi fair, which has been celebrated for over 700 years.

The fair is held on the 13th day of the first month of the Chinese calendar in Majie village, Baofeng county, in Henan's Pingdingshan city.

Named a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006, it attracts folk artists from across the country, including those specializing in singing ballads and cross-talk.

Henan is known for its archaeological discoveries, including Yinxu Ruins and Erlitou site that are evidence of the early stages of Chinese civilization.

The gala will feature songs dedicated to bronze objects from the Erlitou site, which is believed to be a late capital of the Xia Dynasty (c.21st century-16th century BC), and to oracle bones excavated from the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC) Yinxu Ruins.

"It's like an interaction between the present and the past in which young celebrities engage with ancient people," Li says. "These programs are likely to resonate with young audience members because of the modern design of the stage and visuals."

Another much-anticipated program will be a snake-themed dance by dancer-choreographer Yang Liping and her team, as 2025 is the Year of the Snake according to the Chinese zodiac.

"Henan's Spring Festival galas have successfully created an IP(intellectual property) series in recent years, combining traditional culture with modern technology and attracting the attention of younger viewers," says Wu Xinying, an audience member from Zhengzhou, Henan. "It's not only about giving traditional Chinese culture contemporary vitality, but also about boosting our national pride and cultural confidence."