Chongqing - To celebrate the inclusion of the Spring Festival on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and contribute to the development of Chongqing as a world-renowned cultural and tourism destination, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, in collaboration with the Chongqing Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, is hosting the "Thousands of Overseas Chinese Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Chongqing" event. The celebration will run from January 23 (Little New Year) to February 12 (Lantern Festival) in 2025.
So far, nearly 10,000 overseas Chinese from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam have registered for the event. The event will also feature prominent overseas influencers, bloggers, and online personalities who will participate in the celebrations and live-stream the festivities to an international audience, showcasing Chongqing's unique Chinese New Year atmosphere. The first group arrived in Chongqing on January 22 to experience festive food tastings, intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, folk games, and other special New Year activities.
In Jiangbei District, the "360 Bowls of Chongqing Flavors" food street in the Dayuan·New Guochao Square will host a grand opening ceremony for the event. Traditional Chongqing cuisine and seasonal winter dishes like "Pork Soup" will be showcased in a "Long Street Banquet," embodying the Chinese cultural tradition of fostering friendship and hospitality through food. The event will also highlight the seasonal romance of Sichuan-Chongqing winters with plum blossoms. It will invite participants to engage in activities such as plum blossom appreciation and Hanfu dressing, allowing them to deeply experience Chongqing's unique cultural charm.
Lion dance performance during previous Spring Festivals in Jiangbei District. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)
In Beibei District, visitors to the Pianyan Ancient Town can participate in traditional folk activities such as making tangyuan (sweet rice dumplings), writing Fu characters (good fortune), cutting window decorations, arranging flowers, painting sugar figures, and carving gourds. They can also enjoy performances of Sichuan opera and intangible cultural heritage crafts such as gong and drum playing and Tangmen's colorful paper-cutting.
In Beibei District, visitors to Pianyan Ancient Town can participate in making tangyuan (sweet rice balls), carving Fu(fortune) characters, cutting window paper art, flower arranging, sugar painting, and gourd engraving. They can also enjoy performances of Sichuan opera at a century-old theater and witness intangible cultural heritage displays such as traditional drumming and Tangmen's colorful paper art. The town's renowned "Nine Bowls" New Year feast, rich in local flavors, offers a unique culinary experience. Organizers have specially designed interactive activities for overseas Chinese to immerse them in the local lifestyle.
Paper-cutting art during New Year celebrations in Beibei District. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)
In Changshou District, the Bodhi ancient town and the Changshou Museum have prepared a series of Spring Festival activities, including snake year blessings, handmade Chinese knots, lantern DIY, and Lantern Festival celebrations. Notably, the 2025 Changshou New Year cultural performance "Our Chinese Dream—Cultural Entering Ten Thousand Homes" will feature dance, drama, and language arts, showcasing the district's rich cultural heritage.
In Shizhu County, the large-scale cultural performance "Painting the Long River" will be held, featuring music, poetry, and theatrical reenactments. Activities such as lantern viewing, opera performances, ancient town tours, village feasts, and temple fairs will also be organized.
In Youyang County, the Tujia ethnic group's New Year customs, including leaf flute performances, hand-waving dances, and river lantern releases, will be on full display. Traditional activities like making glutinous rice cakes, brewing tofu, and preparing New Year's Eve dinners will offer a feast for the senses.
In Pengshui County, the 2025 Miao Ethnic New Year Festival is ready to welcome visitors. Highlights include a "New Year Market" featuring intangible cultural heritage and a "National Style Miao Charm, Light and Shadow Jiuli" performance. Participants can enjoy Miao wine, bamboo pole dances, and bonfire celebrations, creating unforgettable memories of a Miao-style New Year.
Bonfire party at the 2025 Miao Ethnic New Year Festival in Pengshui County. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)
Chongqing's districts and counties offer a range of unique Spring Festival activities, creating a festive atmosphere that awaits overseas Chinese visitors.
Small New Year concert in Wushan County. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)
An official from the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development emphasized that this event is part of the ongoing "Telling the World About Chongqing" initiative, which started in 2024. This series of activities is also a part of the broader "Chinese New Year, Chongqing Flavor"—2025 Spring Festival cultural and tourism activities. The initiative aims to connect Chongqing with overseas Chinese communities, offering them a tourism experience and a platform for emotional expression, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation.
For overseas Chinese, celebrating the New Year in Chongqing is not just a cross-border trip but also an expression of emotion and cultural exchange. It effectively explores deeper economic cooperation and provides a new experience that enhances national cohesion and cultural confidence. The event strengthens the sense of identity, belonging, and pride among overseas Chinese toward their homeland, showcasing the deep emotional connection between them and China. It also elevates China's international status and influence, supporting the nation's prosperity.
Currently, Chongqing is accelerating the construction of the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor, advancing its goal of becoming a world-famous cultural and tourist destination and improving the convenience of inbound tourism. The city is encouraging market players to innovate with themed tourism products such as "tourism + cuisine," "tourism + intangible heritage," "tourism + performances," and "tourism + wellness." By upgrading the "Telling the World About Chongqing" initiative and promoting "Bashu Culture" globally, Chongqing continues to enhance its "Nihao! Chongqing" inbound tourism brand, telling the stories of China and the new Chongqing to the world.
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