Festival celebrations nationwide

Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in China are home to a significant population of ethnic minorities, each with their own unique cultural customs and celebrations for the Spring Festival.

One notable example is the Munaozongge, a national intangible cultural heritage and the grandest traditional carnival for the Jingpo ethnic group. The Munaozongge originated from religious activities dedicated to worshipping the sun god.

It incorporates various folk customs and activities such as music and dance, painting and sculpture, costume design, architectural craftsmanship, religious rituals, and customs. It serves as a concentrated display of Jingpo ethnic culture and art, showcasing their customs, etiquette, and spiritual features.

The photographs featured in this edition showcase the Spring Festival customs captured by our photographers in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, as well as the festive scenes in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Performers from the Jingpo ethnic group strike poses during a Munaozongge show at Yunnan Nationalities Village in Kunming, Yunnan Province. Photos by Lin Songtao except otherwise stated

Tourists watch a dragon dance performance at the Qin and Han Duyun Studio City in Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. Liu Xudong

Tourists enjoy a New Year lunch with people from the Yi ethnic group at Yunnan Nationalities Village in Kunming.

A Chinese New Year-themed lantern show is held at Yu Garden in Shanghai. Wang Haolan

A tourist is pictured atop Xianglu Mountain in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. Liu Xudong

A woman from the A’chang ethnic group, with a fortune tree behind her symbolizing wishes for a better new year, performs at Yunnan Nationalities Village in Kunming, Yunnan Province.

Hong Kong Disneyland characters are seen wearing traditional Chinese costumes during the Spring Festival holiday. Wang Haolan