2025 Times Square New Year's Eve Celebration Also Welcomes The Chinese 'Spring Festival'

As the New Year was ushered before millions at Times Square, New York and globally, also taking center stage was The Chinese “Spring Festival,” which is now on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List.

Li Li, President of SACAF, hosted the opening ceremony

The Times Square Countdown Committee presenting Li, Xiang, General Manager of China Southern Airlines North America with a crystal piece using in the Crystal Ball engraved with "China Southern Airlines - New York -Friendship" as a special gift and Li, Xiang giving a China Southern Airlines featured gift in return

After the opening celebration, the featured guests being interviewed

The celebration was featured on seven giant screens in Times Square and showcased stunning Chinese performances, presented by the Sino-American Cultural and Arts Foundation. Visuals of famous Chinese landmarks, such as Huangshan's ancient "Welcoming Pine Tree," the Canton Tower, and other vibrant cultural and tourism sites, as well as immersive experiences, highlighted China Southern Airlines' services, while artworks by renowned Chinese artists such as the ink painting, "Swift Success," by Xikun Yuan; and the colorful oil painting, "Melody of Heaven," by Xiang Shi, were also featured. These scenes captured the natural beauty and cultural splendor of contemporary China, alongside the festive atmosphere of the Chinese Spring Festival.

Huangshan's ancient “Welcoming Pine Tree” and its vibrant natural and cultural destination sites featured on seven giant screens in Times Square

The Canton Tower as well as immersive experiences, highlighted China Southern Airlines' services featured on seven giant screens in Times Square

The ink painting, “Swift Success” and other artworks by renowned Chinese artists Xikun Yuan featured on seven giant screens in Times Square

The colorful oil painting, "Melody of Heaven," and other artworks by renowned Chinese artists Xiang Shi featured on seven giant screens in Times Square

The event opened with an artistic performance titled the "Taste of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Spring Festival Celebration." The performance featured a lively Chinese opera and a mix of traditional Chinese modern dance, reflecting the dynamic development of Chinese culture while conveying values of peace, harmony and co-existence between all people and nature.

Artistic Performance: Taste of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Spring Festival Celebration

Many revelers at the Times Square Countdown shared excitedly: "This is my first time learning about the Chinese Spring Festival. We may fly with China Southern Airlines to China for the Spring Festival."

In 2024, the Spring Festival was officially inscribed in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. China has 59 UNESCO World Heritage sites and one of the most iconic is the "Welcoming Pine Tree" in Mount Huangshan. The tree grows from the edge of a cliff and has been alive for over 800 years, symbolizing the resilience of the Chinese people. Mount Huangshan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is renowned for its distinctive granite peaks, ancient pine trees and mist-covered landscapes. It is often described as "Heaven on Earth," and is celebrated as one of China's most outstanding natural and cultural landmarks.

As the world rang in 2025, the inclusion of Chinese cultural heritage at the heart of the Times Square celebration underscored the growing global appreciation of Chinese rich traditions and its contributions to world culture.