Xi'an: Colorful rural activities usher in Chinese New Year

The Spring Festival event, which includes 21 cultural and tourism activities covering major scenic spots and cultural venues in Chang'an, was hosted by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the China Association of Cultural Centers. It was jointly organized by the Xi'an Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Chang'an District Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Chang'an District People's Government, and the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Center. The event was implemented by the Xi'an Mass Art Museum, the Chang'an District Bureau of Culture, Tourism, and Sports, and the Luanzhen Street Office of Chang'an District. It attracted many visitors to Chang'an, where they enjoyed authentic cuisine, experienced rural charm, and attended a banquet that seamlessly integrated culture and tourism.

This event was carefully planned to provide an immersive village tour experience, where residents and tourists could walk, watch, and enjoy the unique charm of rural culture while moving between various exhibition areas, experiencing the lively and festive atmosphere from all angles.

"Previously, we watched the village evening party, but now we are taking part in the village evening party. This kind of activity is so unique," said Ms Sun, a resident of Xi'an.

The place with the strongest New Year flavor is always on the dining table. In the dining area of the gourmet long table banquet, many rural restaurant operators in Shangwang village also presented characteristic dishes such as strong pot flavor braised noodles, Shangwang spicy fish, gourd chicken, and frozen meat, inviting residents and tourists to taste the cuisine with strong rural characteristics.

In addition to delicious food, the village's cultural park party was lively and extraordinary. Residents and tourists received Spring Festival couplets and lucky words full of Chinese New Year blessings, purchased quality items and experienced the folk customs and traditional crafts of Chang'an district.

The Spring Festival Window Flower Exhibition not only showcases more than 30 window flower works, but also provides plenty of paper cutting tools and materials. With on-site skill demonstrations, as well as teaching and guidance from paper cutting artists, visitors were able to enjoy the fun of paper cutting and take home festive and auspicious paper cutting creations.

"On the occasion of the Spring Festival and with the social practice of Chinese people celebrating the traditional New Year being included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, we offer a unique cultural and tourism feast for the public with the help of the 'village evening party+'—an integration platform for agriculture, culture, and tourism—to create a strong atmosphere for celebrating the Chinese New Year," said an official from the Xi'an Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.