The 2025 Chinese New Year is the first new year celebration since the Spring Festival was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December 2024. The Spring Festival is not only a window for people worldwide to understand its cultural significance, but also an opportunity to witness China's economy booming.

Grand gala shows cultural openness

The Spring Festival Gala, described as "China's most-watched TV show", aired on January 29. As a key cultural event during the Chinese New Year, it had a record-breaking 496 million livestream views this year, up 18 percent year on year, reaching all of China and across the world, according to IQ Magazine.

The annual gala is a melody of performing arts including music, dance, opera, martial arts and comedy. Two things that stood out at this year's gala were the inclusion of the U.S. pop rock band OneRepublic and an American pawn shop owner Evan Kail.

OneRepublic performed their hit song Counting Stars, becoming the first American band to perform in a Spring Festival Gala.

Kail became a well-known name in China by donating a rare photo album that documented wartime atrocities committed by the Japanese, including the 1937 Nanking massacre. He was invited to be a guest at this year's Gala.

"The warmth of the Chinese people has really touched me and everywhere I go, people have shown me such incredible kindness," Kail said. "I was born in 1989, the Year of the Snake. It's been amazing to be part of a national celebration and I'm just honored to be here tonight."

Such inclusion in China's most-watched TV program is officially about sending a message of China's cultural openness, The Diplomat said, adding that it is a way for China to promote friendly transcultural connections with the average American.

The cultural openness was also demonstrated by a performance jointly presented by Chinese and Peruvian artists. They combined a traditional Chinese folk song with a well-known Peruvian orchestral composition.

Holiday economy booms

The Spring Festival holiday gave fresh momentum to the consumption drive of the world's second-largest economy.

The eight-day holiday sparked tourism. Reuters reported that the 40-day travel season will continue until February 22, during which Chinese authorities estimate a record 9 billion domestic trips will be made.

According to box office tracker Dengta Data, thanks to the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, the total box office revenue of the Chinese film market had crossed 10 billion RMB (about 1.4 billion USD) as of February 3, surpassing the North American market and ranking first in the world.

"This achievement is not only a milestone in the development of China's film industry, but also marks the growing strength of China's cultural industry," the Tehran Times said.

It said that films drive the country's cultural tourism industry with film-themed exhibitions, experience zones, and attractions boosting regional economies. Movie derivatives, especially cultural creative products inspired by classic scenes and characters, are a new economic growth point. "The deep integration of film with tourism and cultural industries can form a powerful industrial effect," the Tehran Times said.

Globalization of the Spring Festival

With the rising influence of China on the global stage, the Spring Festival has transcended national borders to become a truly global celebration. Spring Festival customs are now celebrated in nearly 200 countries and regions, with almost 20 nations designating it as an official public holiday.

Spring Festival traditions like publicly staged dragon and lion dances, lantern festivals, and fireworks displays are organized in many countries to promote cultural exchanges. These activities also appeal not only to the Chinese communities but also to people of diverse backgrounds.

For example, landmarks such as the Empire State Building in the U.S., Melbourne Town Hall in Australia, and Tokyo Tower in Japan are illuminated in red during the festival.

The Chinese New Year is now a global event that symbolizes prosperity, harmony, and shared humanity, bringing people together regardless of nationality or background, Zamir Ahmed Awan, founding chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, wrote on the Modern Diplomacy website.

"The globalization of the Spring Festival is a testament to the enduring appeal of Chinese culture and its ability to connect people," Awan said.