Celebrations in Family and Community

 

On the twelfth day of the Lunar New Year, the town of Tongfang in Changting county, Fujian province, hosts a vibrant cultural celebration known as the naochuntian. This event, often referred to as the Hakka Village Carnival, sees villagers carrying a massive statue of Guan Gong, engaging in spirited runs and wrestling matches in the muddy fields. The purpose is to seek blessings for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and overall prosperity. Photography by Zhang Wei

 

Every year when New Year approaches, the elderly in Xiantan village, Deqing county, Huzhou city, Zhejiang province, gather together to enjoy a festive meal to celebrate the New Year in advance. Photography by Gao Chengjun

 

People of the Miao ethnic group dance to the sounds of sheng bamboo pipes (known as caitang, literally stepping on the hall) to welcome the New Year in Dali village, Rongshui Miao autonomous county, Liuzhou city, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Photography by Long Tao

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Taiguanren, or the raising of the intendant official, is a traditional folk activity of the Dong ethnic group in Liping county, Guizhou province. Elected children sit on a sedan chair and are raised by adults in hope of a prosperous future career. Photography by Cai Shuangrong

 

Rooster-grabbing is a traditional folk activity among the Dong ethnic group in Gantuan village, Congjiang county, Guizhou province. This custom, associated with marital choices, takes place on the second day of the first lunar month each year. Photography by Wang Lin

 

The spirited and sociable Baiku Yao community, part of the Yao ethnic group in Nandan county, Hechi city, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, actively participate in the dynamic sport of competitive top-spinning during festival seasons. The rotation of the tops symbolizes the intertwining of people’s lives, fostering a sense of unity and bringing them closer together. Photography by Huang Daqi

 

The residents of Zhangzhou city in Fujian province gather for a New Year prayer ceremony held within the tulou, traditional earthen buildings. During the ceremony, they earnestly pray for a bountiful harvest, as well as peace and prosperity for both the nation and its people. Photography by Li Runnan

 

A person seated on a sedan chair is ceremoniously carried into the sea as part of the Lantern Festival festivities in Putian, Fujian province. This unique activity adds to the joyous celebration of the festival. Photography by Liu Ningsi

 

The local residents organize their own “Village New Year Gala” at the cultural hall in Qingyuanqiao village, Fuchun street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Photography by Zhou Rong

 

Celebratory performances marking the Chinese New Year take place in the ice city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province. Photography by Geng Hongjie

 

As the New Year approaches, crosstalk actors entertain the residents of a care home in Tianjin with a stand-up comedy performance. Photography by Shen Yue

 

A grand lantern parade, featuring thousands of participants, unfolds during the Lantern Festival in Dachanglong village, Puning city, Guangdong province. Photography by Zheng Chuangzhong

 

“Sheep-scrambling on the yak back” is a captivating traditional sport conducted in the Pamir Plateau of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, at an altitude of approximately 4000 meters. This unique athletic event takes place during festivals or as part of wedding celebrations. Photography by Chen Xiping

 

Both locals and visitors alike gather to witness the vibrant flower market in Guangdong province. The event features a variety of activities, including a parade of flower boats on water, immersive experiences showcasing intangible cultural heritage, and flower sales. Photography by Chen Jinde

 

Leaping over the flames is a traditional ritual observed during folk worship in the first lunar month in Chaoshan region, Guangdong province. Photography by Chen Peikun

 

As the New Year draws near, the residents of Luoshan village in Hefeng town, Nanjing, Jiangsu province, are actively engaged in the traditional customs of posting spring couplets and making dumplings. Photography by Tong Laifeng

 

The Taibo Temple Fair in Meicun, Jiangsu province, is vast in scale and extraordinary in festivity. Held on the ninth day of the first lunar month, it has been included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage. Photography by Zhang Wuhua

 

The residents in Songpan county, within the Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province, celebrate Losar, the Tibetan New Year, with joyous songs and dances. Photography by Wang Kui

 

A family in Kunming city, Yunnan province, releases river lanterns, allowing them to gently drift down the river at night. This tradition is undertaken with the hope for happiness and tranquility in the upcoming year. Photography by Wan Ben

 

People in Shangzhuang town, Jixi county of Xuancheng city, Anhui province, participate in a grand folk sacrificial activity known as Taiwanggong, or “lifting Wang Gong” (who is a general from the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907) to protect the border and secure its people). This event is conducted to pray for a bountiful harvest, longevity, as well as peace and prosperity in the upcoming New Year. Photography by Pu Shengyi