Cities across China are showing off a colorful new look with lakes and parks adorned with dazzling and vibrant lanterns as the New Year is approaching, attracting people to enjoy various activities and embrace a new beginning.
Chongqing Municipality in southwest China staged a splendid lantern show at the Longtanghu Park to greet the imminent arrival of 2025.
A host of dazzling lanterns scattered over the lake in the park, lighting up the night sky and creating a harmonious festive vibe.
Moreover, a water wonderland is created with lanterns in the shape of a carp. The fish, in Chinese folklore, can turn into a dragon, once it leap over the Dragon Gate, or the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary mountain, which is considered an auspicious symbol.
In addition, a series of folk-art performances, like fire pot ("Huohu" in Chinese), were also presented to wish for a good fortune and good luck in the new year.
The city also provided residents and tourists with a visual feast by putting on a grant drone show on Saturday night.
The magnificent drone fleet consisting of 1,000 drones constantly changed shapes in the air, including carps, dragon, firework and lanterns, combining modern technology with traditional cultural elements to celebrate the arrival of 2025.
The lantern show, kicked off on Saturday, will run through the Lantern Festival in the Year of the Snake, which falls on Feb 12 next year.
A lantern fair is being held at the China Flower Expo Park in Yinchuan City of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
The event showcases an array of intricately designed lantern displays, which span multiple themed areas and include a variety of engaging activities like trying delicious cuisines and enjoying intangible cultural heritage performances.
By blending traditional culture with modern technology, the lanterns aim to create a mesmerizing visual experience that transports visitors to a fantastical world.
"It is the first time that I've seen such beautiful lanterns. There are so many types and the designs are very beautiful," said Xue Shaohua, a resident in Yinchuan.
"The lantern fair covers an area of more than 300,000 square meters and have more than 100 sets of lanterns. We've set up five exhibition areas, with five themed activities launched as well, such as Datiehua (molten iron fireworks), parades, stage performances. We're also offering intangible cultural heritage products and snacks," said Cui Meng, head of the lantern fair.
The lantern fair will last until Feb 16, 2025.
Chinese cities stage lantern show to greet new year
A 25 percent import tariff on all foreign-built vehicles entering the United States has raised serious concerns for manufacturers in South Africa.
Automotive giants like Mercedes and BMW have long used South Africa as a base for global exports -- but those plans may be shifting into reverse gear after the U.S. announced the punitive measures.
"If you take, for example, BMW, 97 percent of the X3 that we are producing in Rosslyn is exported out of the country. We only sell 3 percent in South Africa, and there's a huge number of those vehicles that also go into the U.S. So there are companies in South Africa that are purely here not because they are selling vehicles in South Africa; they are here to produce vehicles for the global market, and it's important for them to remain globally competitive," said Mike Mabasa, CEO of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa.
U.S. automaker Ford, which has deep roots in South Africa, is also in the crosshairs.
The company recently invested over 300 million U.S. dollars to upgrade its Silverton plant in Pretoria, South Africa, for the production of the world's only plug-in hybrid Ranger, which has just entered production but could face delays or restrictions.
"If an American citizen wants to buy specifically a Ford Ranger that is a plug-in hybrid, they can only place an order in South Africa, nowhere else in the world. So, that means, obviously, the capacity of Ford to be able to produce those vehicles in big volumes is going to be constrained, because Americans are going be looking at another Ford that is produced in another country, or even in the United States," said Mabasa.
South Africa has long enjoyed duty-free automotive exports to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, but that relationship now hangs in the balance.
A sharp shift in U.S. foreign policy threatens to derail an industry that employs thousands and contributes around 5 percent to the country's economy.
"We produce less than 1 percent of global automotive vehicles, so to say. So, in reality, the impact on us is likely to be more disproportionate than those of our peers that produce at the same level. And the risk is actually created -- a concentration risk -- in countries that have greater capacity and are building more; in those countries will be able to absorb some of this," said Parks Tau, South Africa's minister of trade and industry.
Amid growing concerns about overreliance on the U.S. market, Amith Singh, national manager for manufacturing at Nedbank Commercial Bank, emphasized the importance of tapping into regional trade opportunities.
"I think we need to make better use of some of our local agreements, our African continental agreements. How do we leverage that? How do we partner with the government and private sector to start benefiting the countries and the economies aside from the United States? So, those could be the catalyst to drive our localization projects; it could be what we need to drive the African economy as opposed to being completely reliant on the States (United States)," he said.
South Africa is for now standing firm in its decision not to retaliate against steep U.S. import tariffs, set to take effect in just a few days.
Officials in Pretoria acknowledge the challenges posed by the current U.S. administration but are pursuing a diplomatic approach in hopes of maintaining stable relations and preserving the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
US tariffs rock South Africa’s auto industry
