As the Year of the Horse dawns, families across southern China are ushering in the Spring Festival with vibrant outdoor activities, blending tradition with spring's early warmth. Residents in Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, and Guiyang have transformed parks and historical sites into hubs of cultural celebration following the holiday's official start on February 16.
In Nanjing's Xuanwu Lake Park, children wearing embroidered silk jackets fly kite dragons while grandparents share stories of past festivals. Hangzhou's West Lake promenade buzzes with families posing for photos beneath plum blossoms, their pink petals symbolizing renewal. "We've waited all winter for this sunshine," said Hangzhou resident Mei Lin, balancing a tray of niangao rice cakes during a lakeside picnic.
Shaoxing's ancient water towns report record visitor numbers as families cruise canal networks in traditional wupeng boats, the rhythmic splash of oars accompanying folk songs. Guiyang's Qianling Mountain Park has become an open-air banquet hall, where multigenerational families share reunion meals featuring cured meats and zongzi dumplings.
Local authorities have enhanced public transport services to accommodate the surge in domestic tourism, with high-speed rail stations adding 32 temporary routes between major cities. The celebrations highlight China's evolving Spring Festival traditions, combining ancient customs with modern leisure pursuits against southern China's early spring backdrop.
