As of: February 10, 2024, 11:40 a.m
Comments
Press
Split
Fireworks explode in the night sky of Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
© Cai Zengle/XinHua/dpa
From rabbit to dragon: China welcomes a new year according to the lunar calendar.
Hundreds of millions of Chinese travel to visit their families.
The struggling economy is hoping for a boost in consumption.
Beijing - China started the Year of the Dragon on Saturday with a strong rush of travel.
According to state television, over 170 million Chinese people had booked train journeys by Friday alone.
Traditionally, people visit their families during the New Year celebrations and often travel inland from the large cities on the east coast.
The holidays are therefore important sources of income for tourism.
The struggling Chinese economy in particular can really use consumption.
The Spring Festival always follows the traditional lunar calendar.
Accordingly, the previous year of the rabbit was replaced by the year of the dragon.
The dragon is considered an extremely popular zodiac symbol in China.
Superstition has it that it represents strength and good luck, which is why dragon years are popular in China for having children.
Red is the color of happiness
Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important holiday in China.
It is also celebrated in other Asian countries such as Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Indonesia.
The festival was also celebrated in other parts of the world with parades and dance performances.
In New York, the top of the Empire State Building was lit red for Chinese New Year.
The Sydney Opera House also shone in red.
A kite-shaped light installation on Lunar New Year's Eve in the Shichahai area of the capital of China.
© Li Muzi/XinHua/dpa
Because red is the defining color of the spring festival - the color of happiness.
People in China usually decorate their front doors with it and hope that prosperity and happiness will come to their home.
Popular gifts are red envelopes containing money.
dpa