Yearender: highlights in cultural exchange between China and the world in 2014

“Happy Chinese New Year 2014 — concert in the Czech Republic” was held in Prague on Jan.23, 2014 [photo/culturalink.gov.cn]

Happy Chinese New Year

Spring Festival, the most important traditional Chinese festival, symbolizes Chinese culture and the perception of “unity of man and nature”. During Spring Festival, a number of large-scale cultural events, under the theme “Happy Chinese New Year”, have been launched across the world. In 2014, a total of 570 Chinese New Year events of various kinds were organized in 321 cities and towns in 112 countries and regions, attracting more than 70 million visitors and an enormous newspaper, radio, TV and Internet audience.

For a number of foreigners, “Happy Chinese New Year” has become a valuable channel where they can experience the customs and traditions of the Chinese people.

“Spring Festival has become the world’s festival. The ‘Happy Chinese New Year’ acts as an important channel for Chinese culture to step into the world and a platform for cultural exchange,” Ding Wei, vice minister of China’s Ministry of Culture said. In the coming of the Year of the Goat, “Happy Chinese New Year” will bring a feast of culture to the world.