From delicious food to wonderful cultural performances, Chongqing in southwest China is attracting tourists from across the world to immerse themselves in the joyful atmosphere of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year.
The Spring Festival marking the start of the Chinese New Year is China's grandest traditional festival when people across the country return to their hometowns for Chinese New Year celebrations and family reunion. This year's eight-day Spring Festival holiday started from Jan 28.
During the holiday, Chongqing is drawing foreign tourists from all over the world. Many inbound foreign tourists are not only keen to visit scenic spots, but also actively participate in folk activities to experience the traditional Chinese New Year.
A group of foreigners are participating in local Spring Festival activities in Bishan District of Chongqing. Accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums, lion dancers waving lion heads, and flower boat artists dancing back and forth, everyone is eager to experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture.
"They teach me how to write this thing, they are writing Chinese. And I feel good, it's a very good place that most frame here is so nice," said Gui, a Brazilian visitor, as he learned how to write the "Fu" character, which means good fortune in English, from local residents.
Under the guidance of inheritors of intangible cultural heritages, these visitors also personally participated in the production of Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, tasting the local New Year flavors.
"This is my first time in China, and this is the first time I am celebrating the Spring Festival. And I feel very excited about it. I like the atmosphere. They're all funny in here. We've tried a few Chinese foods, we tried to do them ourselves, which was like a very exciting experience I love cooking ways, also I liked it," said Mary from Kazakhstan.
Also in Chongqing, with more than 1,000 performers from local villages, the Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County held a large-scale cultural performance of "Painting the Dragon River", which combined live performance and audience interaction together to show the ethnic Tujia culture and Chinese dragon culture, attracting a large number of locals and tourists to participate.
In addition to the wonderful performances, the audience can participate in a number of interactions in person，not only having the opportunity to make Tujia dried tofu with their own hands, but also participating in folk activities such as throwing wine bowls and eating long table banquet to feel the culture of the Tujia people.
"I'm very happy for real because I'm, this is my eight year in China. I'm understanding more about Chinese Spring Festival. Because Chinese culture is very large and then a little bit strong. I feel like I am getting 100 percent and I only get like 1 percent. So I wish every year to come and then to participate to see out this kind of activities and how Chinese and Tujiazu cultures grow. So I feel very happy," said Umarca Sanca Vitorio, a visitor from Guinea-Bissau.
Chongqing is experiencing a surge in both inbound and outbound travel. It is estimated that during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday period, passenger traffic at the Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport will reach nearly 60,000, marking a year-on-year increase of over 16 percent.
Overseas tourists savor flavor of Chinese New Year in Chongqing
