Grand opening of Pingyao Chinese New Year

Updated:2015-02-15 15:05
( chinadaily.com.cn)

Wang Lei, vice director of the Shanxi province publicity department announces the launching of the Pingyao "Chinese New Year", Feb 11 [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

The annual Chinese New Year celebration for the Spring Festival, in Pingyao county, Shanxi province opened on Dec 23 of the lunar calendar (Feb 11), when sacrifices were traditionally made for the kitchen god.

The festival runs through March 6 and had its opening ceremony on Yingxunmen Square with many interesting performances of traditional song dance and singing, classical ballads and other folk shows, typical of the county. One program that lifted the audience’s spirits to the highest point was a group reading of a classical, “Revitalizing China”, a celebration of morality in Chinese culture.

A folk lion and dragon dance at the opening ceremony in the old town of Pingyao county, Feb 11 [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

The official opening was announced by Wang Lei, vice-head of the provincial publicity dept, followed by a Spring Festival Couplet event, a steamed bun competition and a painting and calligraphy exhibition, with provincial, city and county leaders taking part. More activities during the festival will meet the public one after another in the following days.

The youth chanting a classic ballad "Revitalizing China" at the opening ceremony, Feb 11 [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]