A New Year's gala to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on Jan 31, 2014, was held in Ruzhou, Central China’s Henan province, on Jan 24.

Li Quanshen, a member of the standing committee of the Pingdingshan municipal Party committee and secretary of the Ruzhou municipal Party committee, opened the gala with a warm Spring Festival speech.

On behalf of the four leading groups of the Ruzhou municipal Party committee, municipal committee of the CPPCC, municipal government and municipal people's congress, Li extended a sincere Spring Festival greeting to those living and working in Ruzhou. Li contributed to and supported the city's reform and development. Warm wishes were also delivered to Ruzhou citizens working and living outside Ruzhou.

Wan Ying, mayor of Ruzhou, was on hand at the gala. The audience included leaders of the city's four leading groups as well as Ruzhou-based units.

Though frugal, this New Year's gala was festive. All the wonderful performances were organized and performed by nonprofessionals from the city.