Spring Festival is the same yet different, shaped by where you come from — not only within China, but around the world. For most Chinese people, it's first and foremost about returning to hometowns for family reunions. For many expats, for whom returning to their home countries during this time often proves impractical, it's a chance to explore more of China outside the cities in which they work and live. Some foreigners run toward the sun to escape the cold. Some dash through the snow to embrace deep winter experiences. Yet others seek a Goldilocks balance, pursuing cool destinations that are not too hot, not too cold, but just right — and just as fun. China Daily looks at some of the top spots that expats visit to enjoy the seasonal festivities, and go further in their explorations of the country and its culture.
Editor's Note: Using a blend of words and visuals, this series explores unique communities and reveals the heart of China through food, architecture, craftsmanship, landscapes and traditions.
Originating in Tianjin, Zheng-style lacquerware is a representative municipal intangible cultural heritage project. The craft combines ceramic bases with lacquer surfaces, and integrates traditional techniques such as lacquer art, ceramics, carving, and mother-of-pearl inlay. Using natural materials, the complex process produces works with aesthetic, artistic, and cultural value, representing the new generation of Tianjin intangible heritage. Professor Zheng Yong of Tiangong University has systematically preserved the craft through historical research and modern scientific techniques, enabling its continuation and display at international events. His studio, recognized as a municipal ICH inheritor experience base in 2023, provides a practical platform for young art and design students, promoting innovation and transmission of the craft.
Originating in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Yangliuqing New Year painting is a core northern woodblock printing tradition with nearly 400 years of history. Its subjects include door gods, folk life, folk opera characters, classical stories, and floral and landscape motifs, reflecting both reality and ideals. The production process — outline, carving, printing, and painting — is intricate and highly standardized, earning it the reputation of "China's premier New Year painting". Listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006, the craft now extends beyond paper, appearing in city marathons, international summits, interactive exhibits, and crossovers with cultural products, games, and beverage packaging, bringing traditional artistry to contemporary life.
The lion dance, brought to the first US Chinatowns in places like San Francisco and New York in the mid-1800s by Chinese immigrants from the south, has become an iconic part of Chinese New Year celebrations around the country after more than a hundred years.
Europe has never disappointed those seeking authentic Chinese cultural experiences during the Spring Festival.
The rehearsal hall in Dubai is steeped in hushed anticipation. Dozens, then hundreds of voices, blend into seamless harmony — the deep, steadfast tones of the men intertwining with the luminous, soaring notes of the women. Their unified chorus of My Motherland and I fills the space with profound emotions.
As the Year of the Horse approaches, the spirit of Chinese New Year is sweeping across the globe in a vibrant celebration of heritage, joy and shared humanity. From ancient streets to modern plazas, festivities unfold in settings both familiar and new, carried in the hearts of communities far from home.
As the bells of 2026 ring in the Year of the Horse, we revisit an ancient Eastern totem that has galloped through the collective imagination of humanity for millennia.
The first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar is Spring Festival, the beginning of a new year for China.
Musical artist and his fans carry monikers that reflect their shared positivity and the feeling of being in a utopian space at his concerts.
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Copyright © Ministry of Culture and Tourism, P.R.China. All rights reserved
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