Spring Fest goes global

The "Happy Spring Festival" held in Germany in February features a variety of activities, including showcasing of traditional craftsmanship and performances. [Photo provided to China Daily]

More of the world is getting into the spirit of China's biggest and best holiday. Wang Kaihao reports.

The world is revving up to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival.

About 2,000 cultural events will be staged around the globe during the period, which marks the Lunar New Year, China's Ministry of Culture said at a news conference on Thursday.

"An abundant variety of activities, including performances, extravaganzas and fairs, will serve as the flagship of our country's external cultural relations," says Li Jiangang, deputy director of the ministry's bureau for external cultural relations.

The ministry has organized for art troupes to stage Spring Festival events overseas since 2001. It launched the more comprehensive "Happy Spring Festival" program in 2009 to offer a greater diversity of celebrations.

The program saw 65 events in 42 countries and regions in 2010. It expanded to 2,100 events in more than 400 cities in 140 countries and regions in 2016, when more than 40 state leaders and senior politicians joined the 250 million participants abroad.

The program will essentially match that scale in 2017, the ministry says.

The Lunar New Year will arrive on Jan 28, but the festival traditionally lasts nearly a month.

The Spring Festival is a national holiday in 10 other countries, including Canada, Malaysia and Mauritius.

This offers opportunities to expand the program in the future, says Li.

"We'll have different activities in different regions," he says.