Cities ring in New Year with spectacular night celebrations

People in China welcomed the New Year with vibrant celebrations and cultural displays on Tuesday night, from spectacular light show and night cruise to dazzling iron flower performances.

The combination of vibrant lights, festive events, and cultural showcases exemplified the spirit of celebration as people welcomed 2024 with joy and hope.

As the clock struck midnight, the bustling Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in the city came alive with vibrant light shows and unique night cruises, drawing crowds of locals and tourists eager to welcome the new year.

In addition to the light display, the newly-opened Fushan Bay New Year's Eve special cruise also provided visitors with a fresh perspective and experience.

"This is my first New Year's Eve on a boat. It's very special and the scenery is beautiful," said Li, a tourist.

Meanwhile, in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Changshou District unveiled its spring festival lights, instantly filling the city with a peaceful festive atmosphere. As night fell, colorful decorations illuminated the streets, creating a comfortable urban landscape.

This year's light show prominently featured red and yellow hues, incorporating traditional elements such as red lanterns, Chinese knots and lucky bags, along with auspicious clouds, phoenixes, and pomelos, showcasing the region's characteristic culture.

"I think the fancy lanterns this year are very beautiful and spectacular. It's very colorful and in a new style. It brings strong New Year atmosphere," said Chen Hongling, a resident.

"The colorful lights has made the city more lively and warmer, providing a good place for citizens to take photos and hang out together, enhancing the festive atmosphere," said Chuan Yaqi, another resident.

In Kaifeng, an ancient capital in central China's Henan Province, elaborate fireworks lit up the night sky, greeting the arrival of 2025.

Traditional performances, including the "Iron Flower" intangible heritage performance, captivated spectators with molten iron tossed into the air, creating a dazzling shower of sparks against the backdrop of ancient architecture.

Cities ring in New Year with spectacular night celebrations

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