From February 10 to February 18, the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau will organize delegations to eight countries—the United States, Mexico, Greece, Finland, Australia, Malaysia, Belarus, and Russia.
Spring Begins in the East, Joy Shared Worldwide — 2026 “Galloping into Prosperity” Overseas Happy Chinese New Year to Open a New Chapter in Civilizational Exchange
Beijing,February 16th.From February 10 to February 18, the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau will organize delegations to eight countries—the United States, Mexico, Greece, Finland, Australia, Malaysia, Belarus, and Russia—to host the “Galloping into Prosperity” Happy Chinese New Year cultural exchange activities. The events will integrate a variety of activities, including traditional temple fairs, the “Hello, Beijing” photo exhibition, intangible cultural heritage experiences, cultural and tourism promotion conferences, and zodiac-themed flash mob performances. These initiatives aim to promote the cultural significance of the Chinese New Year and showcase Beijing’s rich cultural and tourism resources. It is expected to attract over a million overseas participants to celebrate the Chinese New Year together.
Zodiac Culture · Contemporary Innovation—The 2026 Bingwu Year of the Horse Zodiac-Themed Flash Mob Conveys Auspicious Meanings
The year 2026 marks the Chinese lunar Bingwu Year of the Horse. In New York City, USA, and Mexico City, Mexico, Zodiac-themed flash mob activities will appear as “unexpected encounters,” with the “Zodiac Horse” making surprise appearances at various landmarks and public spaces. This dynamic and modern approach will introduce Chinese zodiac culture to local communities in a vibrant and engaging way.
“Global Auspicious Zodiac Design Exhibition” Makes a Splendid Debut at United Nations Headquarters in New York
On February 2, the “Global Auspicious Zodiac Design Exhibition” opened at the United Nations Headquarters, showcasing outstanding creative achievements from the twelve-year history of the Global Zodiac Design Competition. On February 11, the Year of the Horse Zodiac Window Display will be unveiled at the Empire State Building in New York. Through the theme of “Two Horses Advancing Together,” the exhibition is expected to convey the auspicious symbolism of prosperity and blessings to an estimated audience of one million visitors. During the event, the book “The Zodiac Culture of China” will also be donated to several universities and cultural institutions in the United States, fostering cultural exchange at both academic and public education levels.
Celebrating Together, Friendship Forever—Sister Cities Open a New Chapter of Friendship
Beijing has long-established sister-city relationships with New York City in the United States, Mexico City in Mexico, Minsk in Belarus, and Moscow in Russia. Choosing these sister cities as the primary venues for the “Happy Chinese New Year” celebrations reflects both a heartfelt retrospective of these enduring friendships and a forward-looking vision for the future.
In 2026, Beijing and Helsinki, Finland, will mark the 20th anniversary of their sister-city relationship, coinciding with the 20th consecutive edition of the “Happy Chinese New Year” celebrations in Finland. A delegation from Beijing will host a Chinese New Year temple fair in Helsinki, which is expected to attract over 30,000 participants. The event will also extend into local schools, offering immersive experiences such as Peking Opera and traditional music performances, allowing Finnish youth to engage with Chinese culture up close.
In Greece, Beijing and Athens mark the 21st anniversary of their sister-city ties, as well as the 10th consecutive year of the “Happy Chinese New Year” event held in Greece. For the first time, in collaboration with the Athens municipal government, a “Happy Chinese New Year” temple fair will be held at the City Hall Square, and a high-quality Chinese cultural performance will be staged at the Piraeus Municipal Theatre. The festive spirit of the Chinese New Year will radiate along the Aegean coast, adding a heartwarming chapter to the friendship between the two nations.
Square Temple Fairs: Public Celebrations – Iconic Landmarks Around the World Transform into New Year Cultural Festivals
This year’s overseas “Happy Chinese New Year” events have gained remarkable popularity, bringing celebrations to prominent squares, parks, commercial districts, and landmark buildings across multiple countries, allowing local communities to immerse themselves in Chinese New Year traditions up close.
Large-scale New Year temple fairs will be held at locations such as Kamppi Square in Helsinki, Athens City Hall Square, Sydney’s Chinese Garden of Friendship, TRX Square in Kuala Lumpur, and Manezhnaya Square in Moscow. These events will integrate cultural performances, intangible cultural heritage workshops, culinary experiences, and interactive traditional activities, featuring joint performances by Chinese and international artists to create an open, joyful, and participatory public cultural space.
Renowned Artists and Troupes · Intangible Cultural Heritage Craftsmanship—High-Quality Cultural Performances Enhance Cultural Identity
This year’s event brings together numerous outstanding artists and inheritors of intangible cultural heritage at the provincial level and above. The cultural performances integrate diverse art forms such as folk music, dance, martial arts, and acrobatics, showcasing the charm of Chinese culture through high-quality presentations. In Kuala Lumpur and Sydney, several National First-Class Performers and national-level athletes will deliver spectacular performances. In Belarus and Russia, Chinese and international artists will jointly present renowned Chinese and foreign pieces, including “Jasmine Flower” and “Veselukha” (The Merry Moment), creating a harmonious cultural exchange.
At the “Happy Chinese New Year” event, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) experience workshops and masterclasses will be set up, allowing audiences to listen to stories of ICH and participate in hands-on creation. Through interactions with ICH inheritors and practical experiences, participants will deepen their understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture. In Sydney, Australia, ICH inheritors will demonstrate Cao-style kite making, paper cutting, and sugar figure crafting amidst the scenic landscape of the Chinese Garden of Friendship.
Cultural Tourism Promotion · A Two-Way Journey—Comprehensive Promotion of Beijing’s Inbound Tourism
Beijing is actively leveraging the overseas “Happy Chinese New Year” platform to fully promote China’s inbound tourism. Activities such as the “Hello, Beijing” photo exhibition, B2B promotion sessions and seminars, and direct C-end consultations are being held in succession. Local KOLs are invited to share their experiences of traveling and living in Beijing, highlighting the city’s cultural tourism resources and entry facilitation policies. Efforts are also underway to promote the “Beijing Gifts” initiative in Russia, vigorously advocate for the direct Beijing-Helsinki flight, and explore collaboration opportunities with relevant enterprises to help Beijing’s cultural tourism products expand into overseas markets.
In cities like Mexico City and Moscow, B2B seminars targeting tourism enterprises will be organized. Representatives from over twenty key tourism companies will engage in practical dialogues focusing on route development, service alignment, and market demands. Additionally, dedicated B2B matchmaking sessions for Beijing’s cultural tourism promotion will be held in New York, Kuala Lumpur, Helsinki, Athens, and other cities, actively building cooperation platforms for local tourism businesses. Meanwhile, cultural tourism booths will be set up at public events in various countries, distributing multilingual promotional materials to bridge the “last mile” of overseas marketing.
In Finland, Finnish vlogger Rebekka has been invited to serve as an ambassador to enhance communication effectiveness from the perspective of local Finnish citizens, precisely reaching key stakeholders in the local tourism industry. A major announcement will be made at the event: China Southern Airlines will launch a new direct flight from Beijing to Helsinki, covering multiple seasons and long holidays. The service is set to commence on March 29, further fueling the enthusiasm of Finns for traveling to Beijing.
In Malaysia, an innovative promotion model combining “culture + tourism + technology” will dazzle Kuala Lumpur. The “Kaka Digital Camera” will allow audiences to virtually check in at Beijing landmarks, while the globally acclaimed Jiqing Zodiac Design Competition’s collaborative trendy toy, WAKUKU, will engage visitors through interactive activities. This lighthearted and fashionable approach aims to spark overseas interest in traveling to Beijing.
As the Chinese New Year approaches, Beijing’s splendor is set to bloom. During the 2026 Spring Festival, a series of cultural exchange activities—using “Chinese New Year” as a cultural bridge and “Beijing Stories” as an emotional link—will kick off. Let us look forward to this spectacular Spring Festival celebration transcending borders and shining on the world stage across eight countries!
Media Contact
Organization: Beijing Overseas Cutural Exchange Center
Contact Person: Chang Hongjiu
Website: https://www.bocec.cn/Index/article/id/1280
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Country:China
Release id:41519
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