Beijing is buzzing as the world tunes into China’s grandest celebration. ‘China’s most distinctive identity’ is trending on foreign social media, fueled by a massive surge in international visitors flocking to the Spring Festival. Ahead of the 2026 festivities, flight bookings to China have skyrocketed, with some routes seeing over fourfold increases year-on-year. European markets report doublings in reservations, marking a shift from mere observers to active participants in this cultural spectacle.
The momentum built after UNESCO inscribed the ‘Spring Festival—social practice of Chinese people for celebrating the traditional New Year’ on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list late last year. Global search indices for the festival jumped over 50%, transforming it from a national event into a worldwide symbol. China’s expanded visa-free policies in 2025—covering 48 unilateral and 29 mutual exemption countries—have boosted tourist arrivals by nearly half. Visitors from diverse nations are immersing themselves in Northeast China’s winter wonders and Lingnan’s rich heritage, experiencing the essence of ‘Chinese beauty’ firsthand.
The festival’s vibrancy extends far beyond borders. Nearly 20 countries now recognize it as a public holiday. From a fiery horse sculpture in Sydney’s shopping malls to humanoid robots parading in Paris, Spanish locales blending traditions, and samba-infused lion dances in Brazil, the Spring Festival has evolved from a Chinese community affair into a shared global memory.
At its core, the festival resonates through universal human emotions: family reunions fostering harmony, bidding farewell to the old year with hope for renewal, and aspirations for prosperity. These timeless sentiments bridge mountains and oceans, forging unbreakable bonds.
This global embrace underscores China’s rising soft power. Leading in multiple international indices, with steady climbs in values and governance rankings, China’s peaceful development and openness project reliability and respect. The ‘Chinese way’ has become a global trend. As the Year of the Horse symbolizes dynamic progress, celebrating Chinese New Year in China is now fashionable worldwide, harmonizing beauty and diversity in a heartfelt cultural symphony.