Xi'an springs into Chinese New Year carnival

As the Year of the Dragon approaches, the 2024 Xi'an Chinese New Year Cultural Tourism Event kicked off, launching a 52-day cultural festival, which will last from Jan 18 to March 9.

The event, based on traditional Chinese festivals such as Xiaonian, or "Little New Year", which falls one week before the Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year's Eve, and the Lantern Festival, will launch nine series of activities, offering a unique Xi'an-style cultural and tourism feast for locals and tourists.

This year's event has been changed from previous years, focusing on the preservation and promotion of excellent traditional Chinese culture, fully utilizing Xi'an's rich intangible cultural heritage resources, and modifying modern cultural expressions.

According to the event schedule, the first phase will run from Jan 8 to Feb 9 and will focus on creating a festive cultural atmosphere for the New Year; the second phase will run from Feb 10 to 16 and focus on exploring culture; and the third phase will run from Feb 17 to March 9, emphasizing the supply of cultural products.

Two dragon-shaped lantern installations debut at Yongning Gate Square in the Xi'an City Wall Scenic Area. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

The Chang'an Lantern Festival will be held in various locations, including the Daming Palace National Heritage Park, Tang Paradise, the Xi'an City Wall, Kunming Lake • Qixi Park, and other areas, presenting a dazzling and magnificent New Year lantern feast.

The intangible cultural heritage folk custom exhibition series will feature traditional folk performances such as New Year's drumming, a shehuo parade, Qin Opera, shadow puppetry, and paper-cutting, creating a festive and lively atmosphere.

A cultural performance on an open-air stage in the Yisu Theater Cultural District attracts many tourists. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

Furthermore, the 2024 Silk Road City Spring Festival Gala will present an audio-visual feast showcasing the new era's Silk Road symphony and promoting Chinese culture to the world, while a cultural performance series will feature traditional opera performances in celebration of the New Year, offering nearly a hundred New Year cultural performances for locals and tourists.

In addition, a rich variety of cultural and museum exhibitions and New Year cultural experience activities will be held at the city's major museums, focusing on themes such as the Spring Festival, zodiac signs, culture, and folk customs.

The Song of Everlasting Sorrow dance performance is staged at Huaqing Palace in Xi'an. [Photo.Xi'an Daily] 

Experiential cultural and artistic activities, Lantern Festival lighting ceremonies, and opening performances will be held in countries such as Australia and New Zealand, which will enhance the international visibility and influence of Xi'an.

Additionally, Xi'an will organize a series of food culture activities and launch its urban roaming plan, bringing a unique New Year with rich and colorful festivities.