Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional new year, was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in December 2024. Spring Festival is not only the highlight of China's cultural calendar, as it also embodies both the profound cultural connotations and collective emotional sustenance of the Chinese nation. The festival is a living tradition that adapts with changing times.
How do Chinese celebrate their most important festival? Women of China invites you, our readers, to take a joyful journey to several places in China, so you can immerse yourselves in the rich and wonderful customs of those regions. Our wish is that you will enjoy the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year!
Spring Festival officially falls on February 17 this year. The festival is now celebrated in many places worldwide. However, for Chinese, "Guonian," which means "crossing the year," is more than the celebrations for embracing the new year. The true meaning of "Guonian" might only be fully understood by experiencing it in China.
"Guonian period" generally begins on the day of Laba Festival, which falls on the eighth day of the 12th month of the Chinese calendar. On Laba, Chinese enjoy porridge, made from various grains and beans, which symbolizes harvest and prosperity.
Preparations for Spring Festival generally include cleaning homes to sweep away bad luck, buying new clothes and preparing delicious food.
On New Year's Eve, families gather to enjoy a reunion dinner, and they stay up late, to welcome Chinese New Year. Beginning on New Year's Day, vibrant celebrations, such as temple fairs and lantern shows are held, and they continue until Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
During the period, Chinese celebrate the festival in keeping with the traditions in their region. What are some of those traditions? Let's find out together.
Birthplace of Spring Festival Culture
Langzhong ancient town, which dates back more than 2,300 years, is situated in Nanchong, a city in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Langzhong's most significant claim to fame is its pivotal role in the creation of Spring Festival. During the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD), Luo Xiahong, an astronomer from Langzhong, helped formulate the Taichu Calendar, which adopted the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar as the start of the new year. This practice continued for successive dynasties; as such, it cemented the custom of celebrating Spring Festival.
Guonian period in Langzhong lasts until the day of Longtaitou, which literally means "dragon raises head." Longtaitou, falling on the second day of the second lunar month, is an important time to pray for good fortune and a bountiful harvest. Langzhong preserves traditional festival customs that have become rare in other regions of China. One of those customs is "Lianghuaxie" (which literally means showing off embroidered shoes). On New Year's Day, and on the day of Longtaitou, young women wear new clothes and beautiful embroidered shoes. The women compete in embroidery and shoe-making skills on the street, by showing off their shoes. Later, they sing and dance, all the while expressing hope for happiness and health in the coming year.
Flavor of Chinese New Year
Anchang ancient town, with a history of more than 1,000 years, is situated in Shaoxing, a city in east China's Zhejiang Province. Anchang is one of the well-preserved ancient water towns, which features the architecture of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1616-1911) dynasties, in the Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River) region. Riding on a black-awning boat, a traditional wooden vessel, is an ideal way to appreciate the town's picturesque scenery and traditional dwellings.
Anchang has preserved the millennia-old custom of curing meat — with spices, traditional soy sauce and yellow rice wine — in winter. After Laba, the residents prepare cured sausages and other meat, as well as dried fish and duck, all of which are traditional culinary delights of Chinese New Year. It is common to see preserved meat being aired in front of dwellings, and along the river; in fact, airing the meat has become a calling card of the ancient town. Visitors can buy some cured meat, to take the authentic "flavor of Chinese New Year" back home.
Vibrant Temple Fairs
In Beijing, the locals enjoy visiting temple fairs during Spring Festival to embrace the festive atmosphere. The history of temple fairs in Beijing dates back to the Liao Dynasty (907-1125). During ancient times, temple fairs often included religious ceremonies, entertainment events and trade activities. Now, they focus more on demonstrating traditional Chinese culture. Changdian Temple Fair, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty, is Beijing's oldest and best-known temple fair. It has everything that you would expect: Tasting snacks, with typical local flavors, trying to write the Chinese character 福 ("Fu," meaning blessings), admiring antiques, paintings and calligraphies, buying traditional knickknacks and handicrafts, and enjoying wonderful performances, such as acrobatics, martial arts, folk dancing, and the dragon and lion dances. The temple fairs of Ditan, Longtanhu and Baiyunguan are also must-visit events, as they are renowned for a variety of folk performances and mouth-watering snacks.
Magnificent Spectacle
Lighting and appreciating lanterns during Spring Festival, especially on the day of Lantern Festival, is a time-honored tradition in China. The custom of lighting lanterns during Lantern Festival dates back to the Western Han Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it formally became a national-level celebration. At that time, Chang'an (ancient name of Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province), was illuminated all night with a dazzling display of lights and fireworks.
Nowadays, Xi'an City Wall Lantern Festival is one of China's most distinctive folk cultural celebrations during Spring Festival. Xi'an has preserved the largest, and best-preserved, ancient city wall in China. The lantern fair, situated on the wall, highlights the essence of traditional culture, while integrating modern technology and interactive installations. As dusk descends, visitors can marvel at intricately designed lanterns, themed with national treasures, Tang poetry and zodiac symbols. They can also experience the feeling of travelling back to the flourishing Tang Dynasty.
Photos from VCG
(Women of China English Monthly February 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
