Festivities in full swing across China to ring in New Year

As revelers count down to 2025, cities and towns across China come alive with vibrant celebrations, dazzling light displays, and unique festive activities, all aimed at welcoming the New Year in style.

In Nanjing, located in east China's Jiangsu Province, more than 40 large-scale light installations illuminate the streets, including a stunning 14-meter-tall snake-themed lantern that celebrates the upcoming Chinese New Year of the Snake. This magnificent creation has become a popular photo spot for visitors, enhancing the city's festive charm.

In Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, bridges and iconic landmarks along the Yangtze River are aglow with dazzling light shows, creating a breathtaking backdrop for a spectacular New Year celebration.

In Hotan, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, people from all ethnic groups gathered in joyous harmony, singing and dancing to celebrate the arrival of the holiday.

In Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, the city's annual lantern fair kicked off with 70 magnificent lantern displays illuminating the night sky in a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors.

Over a hundred unique lantern displays are delighting visitors in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The festival also features traditional performances and delicious food, showcasing the charm of China's rich cultural heritage.

"It's wonderful to see so many beautiful lanterns. There are varieties for everyone --some that children love and others that appeal to us young people. The overall experience is just amazing," said Yinchuan resident Xue Shaohua.

Flowers also play a big role in festive decorations.

In the capital city of Beijing, 10 varieties of iconic flowers from across China, including wintersweet from Xuchang and azaleas from Jiaxing, are gracing the New Year flower markets. Visitors can admire these stunning blooms at major shopping districts and parks, further enriching the celebratory atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in Tianshui of Gansu, and Nanning of Guangxi, orchids such as the moth orchids and dendrobium varieties are blooming brightly, symbolizing new beginnings and hope.

In Shenzhen of Guangdong, chrysanthemums and purple trumpet trees vie for attention, with over 60,000 pots of chrysanthemums at Donghu Park becoming a favorite destination for both locals and tourists for this New Year holiday.

In Da'an of Jilin, winter fishing is in full swing, highlighted by a first catch of over 100,000 kilograms of fish, symbolizing a bountiful year ahead.

In Shexian County, Anhui Province, locals are busy preparing mi guo, traditional rice cakes that are a festive specialty. Nearly every household in rural Shexian produces thousands of mi guo during the festive season, carefully preserving them in water jars to keep them fresh.

Meanwhile, in the winter wonderland surrounding Qinghai Lake, families are enjoying snow football, ice-skating, and a variety of other winter sports.

Festivities in full swing across China to ring in New Year

U.S. President Donald Trump's rollout of sweeping "reciprocal tariffs" may lead to global economic recession and will exacerbate inflation in the country, said a Spanish scholar.

Amid widespread opposition, Trump on Wednesday signed two executive orders, imposing a 10-percent "minimum baseline tariff" on all imported goods and higher rates on certain trading partners.

Felix Valdivieso, a professor at IE Business School, told China Central Television (CCTV) that following the imposition of the tariffs, all consumers in the world will feel the pinch.

"These measures will have global economic impacts and may even lead to a recession. Analysts at Moody's Ratings have pointed out that these tariffs will drive up prices. Price increases will directly affect consumers' personal income and spending power, as well as their purchasing power," Valdivieso said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday announced his government will implement a 14.1 billion euro plan to support the economy in the face of Trump's tariffs.

He called the tariffs a "unilateral attack", saying they will harm the interests of people and businesses in both the EU and the United States itself, an opinion shared by Valdivieso.

"In other words, the U.S. is trying to make money by imposing tariffs, which will also drive up prices of domestic products. According to estimates by American analysts, the price of each car in the U.S. will go up by about 1,000 to 2,000 U.S. dollars after the tariffs are imposed. With car exports to the U.S. blocked, there will be two consequences for Europe. One is that Europe will have to find other markets to sell cars. The other is that it will have to bear the consequences of the decline in car sales in some way, so it has to reduce car production lines and lay off employees," he said.

Trump's tariffs may lead to global recession, exacerbate US inflation: Spanish scholar