People across the world are celebrating the arrival of 2025 in various ways.
In Thailand, the Menam River in Bangkok hosted a fireworks show as the clock struck midnight that ushered in the first day of 2025. The fireworks illuminated a 1,400-meter canvas of the night sky, painting a vivid tapestry that spanned five kilometers along the river.
Approximately 100,000 locals and foreign visitors gathered there to greet the new year.
"The New Year's Day is a happy holiday. Thai people worked hard throughout the year, and this day is for us to take a rest and have family reunions," said a Thai.
"I wish my family and friends to stay healthy," said a Chinese tourist.
A bustling night market along the river attracted tourists eager to savor local delicacies.
In a commercial street near the Naritasan Temple in Narita, Japan, dozens of shops offer a variety of festival goods, including blessing ornaments and Daruma dolls that symbolize good fortune.
Tourists have crowded the area to pray for good luck and shop for the New Year.
Japanese consumers are expected to spend an average of 43,000 yen (about 274 U.S. dollars) per person on tourism during the 2025 New Year holiday, marking a record high, according to industry data.
At a coastal tourist destination in Cape Town, South Africa, tens of thousands of tourists gathered for grand celebrations for the New Year.
"We are from the Netherlands celebrating the start of 2025. Everybody happy New Year," said a Dutch tourist.
As night fell, the brightly lit streets, dynamic music and lively performances infuse the city with a festive atmosphere around the corner of every New Year, fascinating tourists from across the world.
In Paris, France, fireworks lit up the sky over the Arc de Triomphe to greet the New Year on the Champs-Elysees Avenue.
The celebrations started at 19:00 on the last day of 2024, featuring music performances, light shows and fireworks display at midnight.
New Year celebrated across world
A direct flight route connecting Xi'an City in northwest China's Shaanxi Province with Malaysia's Penang was launched on Monday, marking a new chapter in cultural exchanges between the two nations.
A group of 10 university students from Xi'an International Studies University and Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts were warmly welcomed upon arrival by the Chinese Consulate General in Penang and the Penang State government officials.
Upon landing at the Penang International Airport, the flight was greeted with the traditional "water salute", followed by a warm reception at the arrival hall.
Penang State Executive Councilor for Tourism and Creative Economy Yeoh Soon Hin, and Ding Qiao, deputy consul general of China in Penang, posed for photos with the students.
As 2025 approached, the students joined tens of thousands of locals in a countdown celebration, with fireworks lighting up the night sky, heralding a year of hope and aspirations.
"We will be undertaking a one-month internship as assistant councilors in Penang State. As young Chinese people in the new era, we aim to use this opportunity to broaden our global perspectives, better tell China's stories, convey China's voice, and contribute to the enduring friendship between China and Malaysia," said Liu Hao, a graduate student at the School of Advanced Translation and Interpretation, Xi'an International Studies University.
The students, dressed in matching activewear, also participated in a New Year's Day city walk in George Town alongside local residents.
In the evening, they attended the Penang temple fair's lantern lighting ceremony and strolled through the beautifully decorated streets. The group also took photos with Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang, and Zhou Youbin, Chinese Consul-General in Penang.
Penang State and Shaanxi Province enjoy a strong friendship, exemplified by collaborative projects such as the Penang State Assistant Councilor Internship Program, the Silk Road (China-ASEAN) Model United Nations Conference, and the creation of mural paintings in the typical style of farmers in Shaanxi.
As Malaysia assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, the partnership between the two countries is set to deepen, offering broader opportunities for China-Malaysia cooperation.
Xi'an-Penang direct flight inaugurated, students from both countries celebrate New Year together
