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Fireworks, Mahjong Machines, and Decorations: Spring Festival Goods Go Global

By CHANG CHEN|Jan 24,2025

Chongqing - From becoming a UN holiday to being inscribed on UNESCO's heritage list, the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, is celebrated by nearly one-fifth of the world’s population. This festival’s cultural influence has gone global, with traditional and innovative Chinese festive goods increasingly gaining popularity in international markets.

This photo, taken on Sept. 21, 2023, shows an advertisement for Liuyang Happy Fireworks Export Trade Co., Ltd. at Times Square in New York, the United States. (Photo/Xinhua)

Chinese fireworks light up the world

A viral video recently captured Germans lining up at dawn to purchase Chinese fireworks, with many of these products originating from Shangli County, Jiangxi Province—one of China’s four major fireworks production hubs. With the New Year approaching, the demand for fireworks has surged, leading to a significant boost in exports.

“Since September 2024, our seven production lines have been operating at full capacity, producing 2,000 boxes daily, but we’re still unable to meet the high demand,” said Xia Tongguo, manager of the production department at Pingxiang Jinping Fireworks Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

According to local companies, international orders have risen by 17.6% compared to last year. This growth is partly due to the proactive efforts of the local government to enhance international trade. In 2024, safety-certified fireworks companies underwent upgrades to boost export potential.

“To meet international market demands, we established a research and development center, launching over 300 new products in 2024,” said Xia Taichun, general manager of the company. One display shell firework alone is expected to generate export sales of 10 million yuan (about 1.37 million U.S. dollars) before the New Year.

Toys and festive goods ride the “overseas boom”

Chinese traditions are also expanding through the export of toys and other festive items. A toy company in Songtao, Guizhou Province, received numerous international orders early in the year. Workers are busy fulfilling orders, with 2025 production already scheduled through May and June.

“With 30,000 orders to ship before the New Year, we’ve organized extra staff to ensure timely delivery,” said Shi Beng, the company’s business manager.

The rise of cross-border e-commerce platforms has made it easier for global consumers to experience the Chinese Lunar New Year. Data from Taobao’s overseas market shows a sharp increase in sales of festive products in early 2025. Traditional Chinese goods, including wood carvings and teapots, saw a nearly 150% rise in sales, while trendier items, such as automatic mahjong machines, surged over 600%. Zodiac-themed “blind boxes” have been particularly popular, with sales doubling year-over-year.

“China’s Spring Festival exports are increasingly showing trends of diversification, digitization, branding, and localization,” said Yuan Qian, a National Development and Reform Commission researcher. Yuan noted that products now range from traditional items like fireworks and tea to electronics, smart home devices, and cultural creations. Digitization, meanwhile, has allowed companies to leverage e-commerce and social platforms to reach global consumers more precisely.

Global appeal of Chinese knots and lanterns

Red lanterns, a quintessential Chinese Lunar New Year symbol, are now adorning homes and streets worldwide. In Tancheng County, Shandong Province, the largest Chinese knot production base in the country, production has entered its busiest season. Seventy villages in the area specialize in creating Chinese knots, with thousands of items shipped daily.

“A logistics station has been set up specifically to handle the transport of Chinese knots. I make three or four trips daily and barely have time to rest,” said Wang Dong, a truck driver.

Local manufacturers attribute the surge in orders to their innovative designs. “In the past, our Chinese knots were mostly handwoven and simple. This year, we launched six series, including hollowed-out, cloisonne, velvet, and irregular panels, with over 1,000 unique items,” said the general manager of one crafts factory. These products are now exported to Southeast Asia and beyond.

Similarly, lantern production in Tuntou Village, Hebei Province, known as the “First Village of Chinese Palace Lanterns,” is in full swing. The traditional Tuntou palace lantern involves 56 steps, including assembling frames, adding lampshades, and attaching decorative elements. Today, the village produces over 300 varieties, including wood-carved and paper-cut lanterns, meeting diverse consumer preferences worldwide. This year's most popular are colorful revolving lanterns, which are vibrant and adorned with auspicious phrases. Over 90% of the village’s residents work in the lantern industry, and their products account for 80% of the domestic market, with exports to the U.S., U.K., Japan, South Korea,  Singapore, Vietnam, and other countries.

As the Chinese Lunar New Year becomes a global celebration, traditional Chinese craftsmanship and modern innovation come together to share the spirit of the festival. From fireworks to mahjong machines and red lanterns, these festive goods carry the essence of Chinese culture, brightening homes and hearts worldwide.

(CCTV News contributed to this report's Chinese version, and as an intern, Gou Long contributed to this English report.)

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