Celebrate Spring Festival: See ICH, world heritage in Binzhou

As the heady scent of plum blossoms wafts through the air on the ancient Silk Road and lanterns glow against the backdrop of nearby red cliffs, Binzhou, located in China's northwest Shaanxi province, launches its 2026 Spring Festival celebrations. Home to the World Heritage Great Buddha Temple and the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Huaguoshan Mountain Lantern Festival, the city is presenting a distinctive cultural program to locals and visitors alike. The festivities will be staged under the theme of Celebrate the New Year in Binzhou – The First Stop West of Chang’an — from Feb 16 to March 5.

For the first time, Binzhou will integrate its World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage resources, highlighting four pillars: Blessings, heritage, technology and cuisine.

Technology Illuminates Tradition

On Lantern Festival night, Huaguoshan Square will host a laser show featuring galloping horses. In a symbolic moment, the Blessing Lamp Oil ceremony will be delivered by drone before thousands of lanterns are lit up in sequence, blending ritual with digital innovation.
Interactive Monkey King installations, robot performances and themed flash mobs will reimagine the Monkey King legend.
From the 11th to 15th day of the lunar month, live broadcasts of the lantern-lighting ceremony and heritage displays will create a combined "day at the Great Buddha Temple, night at Huaguoshan Mountain" experience.

Blessings elevate cultural celebrations

The Great Buddha Temple's Spring Blessing Season features themed installations incorporating traditional "Fu" culture, zodiac imagery and Silk Road elements.
Huaguoshan Mountain's lantern-lighting ritual continues a centuries-old tradition symbolizing prosperity and shared hopes, complemented by iron flower and fire pot performances at Kaiyuan Square.

Heritage, rousing performances to delectable food

The Lantern Festival events will include a Journey to the West-themed parade, intangible heritage exhibitions, traditional crafts and Qinqiang Opera performances by leading artists.

Markets at both venues will offer local specialties such as Binzhou Imperial Noodles. During Lantern Festival, complimentary sweet dumplings will be distributed, with auspicious messages printed on the bowls.
Overall, this Spring Festival Binzhou is offering a refined cultural celebration where history and innovation converge — inviting visitors to experience the enduring vitality of the Silk Road.