Overview
- The Lunar New Year started on February 17, ushering in the rare Fire Horse alignment that appears once every 60 years.
- Large public festivities are underway from Beijing and Hong Kong to Moscow, Buenos Aires and New York, with midnight temple rituals, fireworks, and a CCTV gala featuring children performing alongside Unitree humanoid robots.
- The Spring Festival runs about 15 days and culminates with the Lantern Festival around March 3, with city schedules including New York’s Chinatown parade on March 1 and Hudson Yards programming through February 22.
- China projects a record 9.5 billion passenger trips over the 40‑day travel period and has distributed more than 360 million yuan in consumer vouchers to spur spending.
- Guides highlight core customs such as red envelopes, upside‑down “Fu” door signs, and symbolic foods like dumplings, fish and niangao, alongside reported first‑day taboos including avoiding sweeping, washing hair or haircuts, while lifestyle advice urges clear goals, gradual changes and rest to navigate the year’s fast pace.