Red couplets are hung, fireworks light up the sky, and feasts abound, filling the air with joy and the warmth of home. Once again, the Chinese New Year—or Spring Festival—is just around the corner, arriving on February 17, 2026. As the biggest annual celebration in China kicks off, the dynamic Horse, the seventh zodiac animal, gallops into the spotlight, taking the reins and replacing the Snake to usher in a year of ambition, bravery, and strength.
The Spring Festival season also marks the busiest travel period of the year, known as the “spring migration,” when billions of trips are made for family reunions and leisure. This year, workers in China will enjoy an unprecedented nine-day holiday (though with two make-up workdays), part of a broader initiative aimed at boosting domestic consumption.
Beyond the festivities, the Spring Festival is steeped in rich traditions and countless legends, all of which keep its spirit alive year after year. Dive into our holiday collection below to discover the stories and customs that make this celebration truly special.
Myths and History
Uncover the history of Chinese New Year, from the mythical beast Nian to the evolution of ancient traditions and legends
Nian: The Monster Behind Chinese New Year
The myth that inspired firecrackers and the color red for Chinese New Year
When Exactly was New Year in Ancient China?
The date and means of celebrating a new year changed and evolved over centuries in ancient China
How Did China End Up Celebrating Two New Years?
In the early 20th century, China tried to ban its millennia-old lunar calendar in the name of modernity—with mixed success
The (Un)changing Customs of Chinese New Year Wishes
How people expressed their New Year’s greeting
Celebrating Chinese Little New Year
China’s Lunar New Year celebrations begin with rituals and offerings to the kitchen god
How Ancient Chinese Poets Celebrated the Lantern Festival
Five ancient poems that celebrate the first full moon of a new Lunar New Year
Galloping Through Idioms
Learn idioms about one of man’s most loyal companions in the Year of the Horse
China’s Horse Lands
China’s vast northern steppes and remote borderlands remain defined by horses, where herds move across open grasslands much as they have for centuries
Spring Festival Today
Should holiday fireworks be banned for safety and environmental reasons? What is the annual migration like from the city to rural homes? Discover what the holiday means for everyday Chinese people.
Ban or Bang? China’s Fireworks Paradox
Why does the land that invented fireworks and firecrackers prohibit them in so many places?
Pigs and Party Games: Celebrating Lunar New Year, Dongbei Style
Folk customs and culture of Northeast China during the Lunar New Year
Spring Festival: The Changing Experience for China’s Urban Youth
Annual homecomings increasingly stir alienation and culture shock for China’s urban youth
Buying Words and Flowers: Scenes of Preparation for the Lunar New Year
These scenes of pre-New Year celebrations in southern China will put you in the mood for the holiday
How One Village Sows the Seeds of Wealth at Lunar New Year
The people of Fengxi village celebrate the Lunar New Year with a unique folk ritual involving sugarcane, deities, and fire
How the TV Stole Spring Festival
First airing live in 1983, CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala didn’t just change TV—it changed the way China celebrates the Lunar New Year
Saddle Up: Riding with China’s New “Cowboys”
Ride with modern Beijing cowboys across the steppes of Hebei province
Photo Stories
From leaping into fire for good fortune to parades with kids dressed as gods, explore stunning photos showcasing Lunar New Year celebrations across China
Holiday Language Guide
From dodging intrusive marriage questions to planning post-holiday weight loss, here’s the language guide you need to navigate the Chinese New Year
The pressure to marry and have children is one of the most common sources of conflict, especially for women, during family gatherings
Discover how Chinese netizens handle nosy, nagging relatives >
The CCTV Spring Festival Gala is the state media’s annual celebration of the Chinese New Year and an enduring Spring Festival tradition for the nation
“Falling leaves return to the roots,” or all things go back to their source eventually
“New year, new atmosphere. I will start exercising.”
“Years flowing like water” is an idiom equivalent to “time flies”—it describes a period of great enjoyment that passes quickly, like flowing water
Food
Not just dumplings—explore the rich and diverse culinary traditions of the Lunar New Year throughout China
Give Me Anything But Dumplings this Lunar New Year
What other foods do Chinese eat during the Lunar New Year?
On a Spring Roll
Spring rolls are considered a classic Chinese food, but did you know they actually come in many varieties across the country?
What’s for Dinner: Diverse New Year ‘Reunion Meals’ Around China
Many Chinese New Year traditions revolve around a family dinner, but what’s on the table varies greatly from region to region
Beyond the Cup: How Instant Noodles Evolved with China
Once a staple food for train rides home during the Chinese New Year, instant noodles in China are now struggling to sustain growth
Luscious Lanterns and Doughy Delicacies from Shandong
From green radish lanterns to animal-shaped bean dough lanterns, there is so much to be discovered in the world of edible Lantern Festival paraphernalia
