Podcasts about Spring Festival

China is on alert as a fresh wave of rain and snow is expected over the next three days, potentially causing travel and tourism disruptions following the Spring Festival holiday. While less widespread and intense than recent weather events, the precipitation warrants attention.气象部门发出预警，预计未来三天我国将迎来新一波雨雪天气，可能导致春节假期结束后交通和旅游出现中断。虽然此次过程的强度和影响范围不及之前，但仍需引起注意。On Sunday, significant snowfall affected Shanxi, Hebei and Henan provinces, while heavy rains drenched much of southern China. The National Meteorological Center forecasts an eastward shift in snowfall, bringing light to moderate accumulations to the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, eastern and northern North China, most of Northeast China and the northern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang province may experience heavy snow and localized blizzards.3月1日，山西、河北和河南等地出现显著降雪，与此同时，强降雨影响了南方大部地区。中央气象台预计，降雪区域将向东移动，内蒙古自治区、华北中东部、东北地区大部和新疆维吾尔自治区北部等地将迎来小到中雪，累计降雪量一般有1～3毫米。其中，内蒙古和黑龙江等地局地可能出现大雪或暴雪。Simultaneously, South China is bracing for heavy rainfall, with moderate to heavy precipitation expected in the southern provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Taiwan. Localized downpours and possible thunderstorms are also anticipated.与此同时，华南地区将迎来强降雨，预计福建、广东、海南、广西壮族自治区和台湾等南方省份将有中到大雨。局地可能出现暴雨和雷暴天气。Offshore, strong winds will affect eastern sea areas due to an intensifying cyclone entering the sea near Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. On Tuesday, gusts reaching 24.5 meters per second are predicted for the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, Taiwan Strait and parts of the South China Sea.在近海区域，由于入海气旋加强，江苏和浙江附近海域将出现大风。周二，预计黄海、东海、台湾海峡和南海部分海域将出现阵风达每秒24.5米的大风。Despite these localized events, forecasters predict no large-scale rain or snow across China this week, with precipitation expected to be scattered and generally light.预报员指出，尽管有这些局地天气事件，但预计本周全国范围内不会出现大范围的雨雪天气，降水总体较为分散，强度一般。However, persistent rain in eastern Southwest China will create slippery roads and reduce visibility, requiring public vigilance during travel.然而，我国西南地区东部持续的阴雨天气将导致道路湿滑和能见度降低，公众出行需注意安全。Northern China will experience a brief warming trend before a cold front arrives on Wednesday and Thursday. Conversely, the south will cool down, providing relief from recent warmth. Daytime highs in Haikou, Hainan, are expected to drop to 20 C by Wednesday.北方地区在周三和周四冷空气到来之前将经历短暂的回暖过程。与之相对，南方地区将迎来降温，使近日的回温天气得到缓解。到周三时，海南海口的白天最高气温预计将降至20摄氏度。In addition, most of China's northern winter wheat region is projected to experience near-average temperatures and 10 to 30 millimeters of rainfall over the next 10 days, which will improve soil moisture and aid the resurgence of winter wheat growth, according to agricultural forecasts.此外，农业气象预报显示，未来10天，我国北方冬麦区大部气温接近常年同期，降水量有10～30毫米。降水将有效改善土壤墒情，利于冬小麦返青生长。The Yangtze River Delta, South China and Southwest China are expected to see near-average or slightly above-average temperatures with 10 to 50 mm of precipitation, benefiting reservoir storage and providing water for spring planting, it added.预报还指出，长江中下游、华南及西南地区南部等地气温接近常年同期或偏高，降水量有10～50毫米，利于增加库塘蓄水和保障春播用水。precipitation /prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃən/降水drench /drentʃ/湿透，浸透National Meteorological Center /ˈnæʃənəl ˌmiːtiərəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ˈsentər/ 中央气象台localized blizzards /ˈləʊkəlaɪzd ˈblɪzədz/局地暴雪downpour /ˈdaʊnpɔː/倾盆大雨，暴雨cyclone /ˈsaɪkləʊn/气旋gust /gʌst/一阵强风，阵风vigilance /ˈvɪdʒɪləns/警惕，警戒resurgence /rɪˈsɜːdʒəns/复苏，再现

NW China's Ningxia inaugurates massive photovoltaic project on coal-mining subsidence area. China's carbon dioxide emissions per 10,000 yuan of GDP down 5 pct in 2025. China releases national standard system for humanoid robotics and embodied AI. China's sci-tech museums draw over 3.5 mln visits during Spring Festival holiday.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Capturing Chaos: A Spring Festival Family Portrait Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-28-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在寒冷的冬天，红色的灯笼摇曳在风中，家里的每个角落都飘散着热腾腾饺子的香味。En: In the cold winter, red denglong swayed in the wind, and every corner of the house was filled with the aroma of steaming jiaozi.Zh: 今天是春节，魏兴奋地在家里忙碌着，他希望一切顺利，能拍到完美的全家福。En: Today is the Spring Festival, and Wei was excitedly bustling around the house, hoping everything would go smoothly so he could capture the perfect family portrait.Zh: “李梅，让大家尽量靠拢一点，”魏指挥着。En: "Li Mei, have everyone move closer together," Wei instructed.Zh: 李梅是他那爱挑剔的妹妹，总是能找到不足之处。En: Li Mei was his picky sister, always finding something lacking.Zh: “唔，你确定这样会好看吗？”李梅皱着眉头，提出她的建议。En: "Hmm, are you sure this will look good?" Li Mei frowned, offering her suggestions.Zh: 就在魏努力布置相机时，门铃响了。En: Just as Wei was adjusting the camera, the doorbell rang.Zh: 开门一看，是一个远方亲戚，穿着一身气球做的滑稽服装。En: Upon opening the door, he saw a distant relative dressed in a comical costume made of balloons.Zh: “这真是有趣的新年装！”张，一向顽皮的小表弟，捧着肚子笑得前仰后合。En: "This is such an interesting New Year outfit!" exclaimed Zhang, their mischievous little cousin, holding his belly as he laughed.Zh: 亲戚的出现让场面一度混乱，小孩们开心地围着他打转，家人们又是一阵哄笑。En: The arrival of the relative led to a brief commotion, with children happily circling around him and the family breaking into laughter.Zh: 魏尽力组织大家，“好，大家往这里看。”En: Wei tried to organize everyone, "Alright, everyone look this way."Zh: “哎呀，有人来抢镜头了！”只见一只小狗突然窜出来，跳上拍照的椅子。En: "Oh no, someone is trying to steal the spotlight!" Suddenly, a little dog darted out and jumped onto the photo-taking chair.Zh: “这是谁家的狗啊？”魏苦笑着问道。En: "Whose dog is this?" Wei asked with a wry smile.Zh: 不远处，张一脸坏笑地拿出一个鞭炮，在大家猝不及防时点燃了。En: Not far away, Zhang, with a mischievous grin, took out a firecracker and lit it when everyone was caught off guard.Zh: “哇！”一声巨响，红光四射，所有人都被吸引住，大笑声瞬间溢满了整个房间。En: "Wow!" With a loud bang, red light flashed, catching everyone's attention, and laughter instantly filled the room.Zh: 在这瞬间，魏按下了拍照按钮。En: At that moment, Wei pressed the shutter button.Zh: 笑声停下后，大家围到相机前，看到屏幕上那张照片：人们惊喜大笑，背景中红光闪烁，远房亲戚装扮滑稽，小狗抬头看天，这一切竟然在这一刻完整地被记录下来。En: After the laughter subsided, everyone gathered around the camera to see the photo on the screen: people laughing with surprise, red light flickering in the background, the distant relative in a funny costume, and the little dog looking up at the sky—all perfectly captured in that moment.Zh: “虽然不完美，但是好有趣。”李梅想了想，说道。En: "Though not perfect, it's so much fun," Li Mei thought aloud.Zh: 魏看着照片，心中感叹，这正是他们家庭的真实生活：混乱、有趣、满满的欢声笑语。En: Wei looked at the photo and realized this was their true family life: chaotic, fun, and full of laughter.Zh: 魏意识到，拍摄完美的全家福并不重要，重要的是这些笑声以及独特的家庭时光。En: Wei understood that capturing a perfect family portrait wasn't important; what mattered were these moments of laughter and unique family times.Zh: 通过这次经历，他学会珍惜这些不完美的瞬间，因为这正是他们彼此之间最真实的联系。En: Through this experience, he learned to cherish these imperfect moments, as they represented the most genuine connection between them.Zh: 春节的夜空中，烟花绚烂，每个人的脸上都洋溢着幸福的微笑。En: In the night sky of the Spring Festival, fireworks lit up brilliantly, and happiness was evident on everyone's face. Vocabulary Words:swayed: 摇曳aroma: 香味steaming: 热腾腾jiaozi: 饺子bustling: 忙碌portrait: 全家福picky: 挑剔fronwed: 皱眉commotion: 混乱mischievous: 顽皮darted: 窜spotlight: 抢镜头wry: 苦笑firecracker: 鞭炮flickering: 闪烁cherish: 珍惜chaotic: 混乱flickered: 闪烁perfectly: 完整genuine: 真实connection: 联系brilliantly: 绚烂outfit: 装balloons: 气球capture: 拍摄scene: 场面unique: 独特subside: 停下gathered: 围shutter: 拍照按钮

猜灯谜、吃汤圆｜元宵节英文这样说，地道又好记元宵节是春节的最后一个重要节日，象征团圆与希望。街头彩灯高悬，家人欢聚猜灯谜、吃汤 圆，温馨又热闹。今天我们就通过这段优美的英文，一起学习元宵节相关的高频词汇、重点句型，并完成逐句翻译，在感受节日氛围的同时，轻松提升英语能力。New Words:lantern /ˈlæntən/：n. 灯笼 lunar /ˈluːnə/：adj. 阴历的；月球的glow /ɡləʊ/：n. 光辉；暖光colorful /ˈkʌləfl/：adj. 五颜六色的gather /ˈɡæðə/：v. 聚集；集合riddle /ˈrɪdl/：n. 谜语symbolize /ˈsɪmbəlaɪz/：v. 象征unity /ˈjuːnəti/：n. 团结；团圆togetherness /təˈɡeðənəs/：n. 亲密无间；团聚ancient /ˈeɪnʃənt/：adj. 古代的；古老的magical /ˈmædʒɪkl/：adj. 神奇的；奇妙的The Lantern Festival, or Yuanxiao in Chinese, on the fifteenth day of the lunar new year,ends the Spring Festival with a glow.元宵节，中文也称 “元宵”，在农历正月十五，以一片璀璨灯火为春节画上圆满句号。Streets light up with colorful lanterns and families gather to solve riddles and eat Tangyuan(sweet rice balls symbolizing unity).街道上彩灯闪耀，家家户户欢聚一堂，猜灯谜、吃汤圆，汤圆象征着团圆和睦。Lanterns represent hope and light overcoming darkness while the full moon stands for togetherness.灯笼代表希望与光明，驱散黑暗，而满月则象征着团圆相聚。This festival blends ancient traditions with modern joy, celebrating family,culture and shared happiness.这个节日将古老传统与现代喜悦融为一体，歌颂亲情、文化与共同的幸福。Whether admiring lanterns or enjoying Yuanxiao, the Lantern Festival is a magical celebration of light and love.无论是赏灯还是吃元宵，元宵节都是一场关于光与爱的奇妙庆典。28期爱趣英文开启限额招募，跟着卡卡老师彻底摆脱懒癌，全面系统提升！公众号：卡卡课堂 卡卡老师微信：kakayingyu002

While the A-share market performed strongly on the first trading day of the Year of the Horse, it is likely to gallop forward even further in the following months, mainly driven by a more amiable domestic macro environment and the development of emerging technologies, experts said.专家表示，虽然A股在马年首个交易日表现强劲，但在未来几个月可能会在更友好的国内宏观环境以及新兴技术发展的推动下进一步上涨。After the extended Spring Festival break, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.87 percent to close at 4117.41 points on Tuesday, while the Shenzhen Component Index jumped 1.36 percent. The tech-heavy ChiNext in Shenzhen also added 0.99 percent. Total trading value on the Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing bourses amounted over 2.2 trillion yuan ($319 billion), up nearly 11 percent from the previous trading day.春节长假过后，基准上证综指周二上涨0.87%，收报4117.41点，深证成指上涨1.36%，以科技股为主的创业板指上涨0.99%。上海、深圳和北京证券交易所的总成交额超过2.2万亿元人民币（合3190亿美元），较前一交易日上涨近11%。Oil and gas extraction companies as well as precious metal enterprises contributed the most to the Tuesday rally, with the former reporting an average 7.53 percent price increase and the latter up by 7.01 percent on average.油气开采企业以及贵金属企业是当日涨幅最大的板块，前者平均上涨7.53%，后者平均上涨7.01%。Uncertainties in the external market have buoyed the performance of the above A-share sectors. The twists and turns in the US-Iran talks have pushed up oil prices, and uncertainty in Washington's tariff policies may escalate the risk-averse sentiment, resulting in higher precious metal prices, said Xia Fanjie, a strategist at China Securities.外部市场的不确定性推动了上述A股板块的表现。中信建投证券策略分析师夏凡捷表示，美伊谈判的曲折推高了油价，美国政府关税政策的不确定性可能会加剧避险情绪，导致贵金属价格上涨。The A-share market is likely to rise further after the Chinese New Year while short-term volatility may not be avoidable, said Yang Chao, chief strategist at China Galaxy Securities. Market anticipation of more supportive government policies may serve as the core driver of a bull market, which can be further sustained by ample market liquidity and development of emerging industries, Yang said.中国银河证券首席策略分析师杨超表示，春节后A股市场有望进一步上涨，但短期内波动可能无法避免。杨超表示，市场对政府出台更多支持性政策的预期可能成为牛市的核心驱动力，而充足的市场流动性和新兴产业的发展可能进一步维持牛市。As the A-share market had already seen adjustments before the holiday when overseas assets underwent rearrangements, odds are high that the Chinese stock market will see gains after the country gets fully back to work following the long break, said Zhang Qiyao, chief strategist at Industrial Securities.兴业证券首席策略分析师张启尧表示，由于节前A股市场在海外资产重新配置的同时已经进行了调整，在长假后国内全面复工复产后，中国股市上涨的可能性很大。Higher risk appetite, coupled with various supportive macroeconomic and industrial policies, will lead to higher readings of the benchmark A-share indexes. In light of tech giants' significantly rising capital expenditures and the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence models, investors are urged to focus on so-called "pan-AI assets", including companies specializing in computing infrastructures and AI commercialization, Zhang said.张启尧称，较高的风险偏好，加上各种支持性宏观经济和产业政策，将推动A股基准指数进一步上涨。鉴于科技巨头资本支出大幅增加和人工智能模型的快速发展，张启尧建议投资者关注所谓的"泛AI资产"，包括专门从事算力基础设施和人工智能商业化的公司。In particular, investment opportunities may lie in optical modules, energy storage, power grids and leading storage companies, which are integral to computing infrastructures. Humanoid robots, autopilot and consumer electronics companies may benefit from a wider AI commercialization, he added.特别是，投资机会可能存在于光模块、储能、电网和存储龙头，这些是计算基础设施的组成部分。他补充道，在更广泛的人工智能商业化中，人形机器人、智能驾驶和消费电子公司可能受益。Liu Xiaoyao, computer industry analyst at Kaiyuan Securities, also holds a positive outlook on the AI sector this year, saying that a "Deep-Seek moment" may be anticipated among multimodal companies. Game, marketing, film and TV-related firms are likely to prosper amid enhanced multimodal capabilities.开源证券计算机行业分析师刘逍遥也看好今年人工智能行业的前景，他表示，在多模态公司中可能会出现一个"DeepSeek时刻"。在多模态能力增强的情况下，游戏、广告、影视相关公司可能会繁荣。The ongoing market rebalancing across the globe is mainly determined by AI's growing influence against the backdrop of divergent monetary policies and other moves adopted by major economies, said experts at Sinolink Securities. Investment activities worldwide, which were mainly driven by AI, have now expanded to sectors more closely related to the real economy. The path of US interest rate cuts is expected to be relatively smooth. All these will provide an amiable environment for the recovery of the global manufacturing cycle.国金证券专家表示，在主要经济体采取不同的货币政策和其他举措的背景下，人工智能的影响力日益增强，这决定了当前正在进行的全球市场再平衡。全球范围内主要由人工智能驱动的投资活动现在已经扩大到与实体经济更密切相关的领域。预计美国降息路径将相对平稳。所有这些将为全球制造业周期的复苏提供有利的环境。During this process, Chinese assets are likely to be reevaluated, boosting the return of capital flow. This will in turn facilitate China's domestic consumption, they added.他们补充道，在这个过程中，中国资产可能会被重新评估，从而促进资本回流，这将反过来刺激中国国内消费。gallop forward /ˈɡæləp ˈfɔːrwərd/快速上涨；奔腾向前risk-averse sentiment /ˈrɪsk əˈvɜːrs ˈsentɪmənt/避险情绪pan-AI assets /pæn eɪ aɪ ˈæsets/泛AI资产

Free trains and dedicated buses are helping a large number of migrant workers return to jobs after the Spring Festival holiday, especially those traveling from China's central and western regions to the eastern seaboard.春节假期过后，大批外出务工者踏上返岗之路。免费专列、包车等暖心服务正助力他们便捷返岗，尤其是那些从中国中西部地区前往东部沿海地区的务工人员。On Tuesday, a traveler surnamed Yang boarded a special train free of charge at Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture in Guizhou province and arrived in Foshan, Guangdong province, in South China.2月24日（正月初八），春节假期后返岗首日，来自贵州省黔东南苗族侗族自治州的杨女士免费搭乘专列抵达广东省佛山市。The prefecture's human resources department provided about 500 seats for migrant workers such as her.黔东南州人力资源和社会保障局为务工者提供了约500个座位。More free trains will depart from the prefecture through Feb 28 to destinations including cities such as Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Guangzhou in Guangdong province. Roughly 500 free seats per service are reserved exclusively for locals who work outside their hometown.到2月28日，该州还将开设更多免费专列，开往浙江杭州、广东广州等城市，每趟专列将为外出务工人员预留约500个免费座位。Each year after the Chinese New Year holiday, firms resume operations and many workers who spent the break at home must return to their posts. That produces a short surge in travel and makes securing tickets the top priority for many.每年春节假期过后，企业复工复产，回乡探亲的务工人员都得返回工作岗位，从而形成节后出行高峰，买到车票成了许多人的头等大事。Yang told China Daily that she scanned a QR code to register after her village issued the notice, and she received a confirmation message the next day. She posted about securing the free ride online and replied to fellow villagers' queries about how to apply.杨女士向《中国日报》表示，在村里下发通知后，她扫码登记，第二天就收到了确认信息。她在网上分享了乘坐免费专列的消息，并回复了同村人关于如何申请的问题。Another beneficiary, Yang Ying from Huangping county in Qiandongnan, said past returns required multiple transfers and a day or more of exhausting travel while carrying heavy luggage.另一位受益者、来自贵州省黄平县的杨英表示，过去返岗需要在多个换乘点之间奔波，耗费一天多的时间，还得拖着沉重的行李。"I have worked in Hangzhou for more than three years. Every year, the hardest task after the holiday is getting tickets. When I saw the free train notice, I scanned, applied and received confirmation within a few days. I felt relieved," she said.她说："我在杭州务工三年多了，每年春节返岗最发愁的就是抢票，看到免费专列报名公告，我第一时间就扫码报名了，没几天就收到确认短信，心里一下子就踏实了。"Wang Wanmin, director of the prefecture's human resources and social security bureau, said they will continue to operate special trains and buses to transport 20,000 fellow townspeople to jobs, further stabilizing employment and boosting incomes.黔东南州人力资源和社会保障局局长王万敏表示，当地将继续开设专列、包车，护送2万余名外出务工人员返岗，进一步稳定就业，促进增收。Railway authorities said the China Railway Chengdu Group plans to run 32 post-festival special trains for workers, which are expected to carry about 18,000 passengers through March 6.铁路部门称，中国铁路成都局集团有限公司计划在节后开行32趟务工人员专列，预计在3月6日前运送约1.8万名旅客。The group manages lines serving provinces such as Sichuan and Guizhou, regions that are major sources of migrant labor.该公司管理四川、贵州等务工人员输出大省的铁路线路。Similar targeted services operate nationwide. Also on Tuesday, a special train for workers from Xi'an in Shaanxi province departed for Suzhou, Jiangsu province, delivering employees directly to contracted employers in Suzhou and nearby Taicang city.全国其他地方也有类似的精准服务。同样在2月24日，一列满载务工人员的专列从陕西省西安市驶往江苏省苏州市，直接将员工送至苏州及太仓市的签约企业。Officials said the transported workers had been prematched with positions in high-end intelligent manufacturing, electronic information, auto parts and precision machinery industries. Roles include technical operators, quality control staff, warehousing personnel and support service staff.据官方介绍，此次输送的务工人员已提前与高端智能制造、电子信息、汽车零部件和精密机械等行业的岗位匹配，涵盖技术操作工、品质管控、仓储物流及配套服务等。After the workers arrived at Suzhou North Railway Station, local human resources departments provided dedicated shuttle vehicles to take them directly to factory dormitories.务工人员抵达苏州北站后，当地人社部门安排专用接驳车，闭环运送务工人员直达厂区宿舍。More flexible, targeted transport has also been added. Guangdong province has introduced bus routes from labor-exporting areas to provide point-to-point service.更灵活、精准的返岗运输服务也在加码。广东省已开通从劳务输出大县到务工集中地的返岗直通车。Between Feb 19 and Feb 25, passengers could scan a code to find buses from provinces including Hunan, Jiangxi and Hubei bound for Guangzhou city, and register their return-to-work transport needs online, local media reported.据当地媒体报道，2月19日至25日，旅客可扫码查询从湖南、江西、湖北等省份发往广州的专车，并在线登记返岗出行需求。Huizhou city in Guangdong province will also set up return-to-work shuttle services at major transport hubs to provide last-mile connections for arriving migrant workers. The program is expected to serve more than 3,000 returning workers.广东省惠州市也将在主要交通枢纽设置返岗接驳专线，为返岗务工人员提供"最后一公里"的便利。该项目预计将为3000多名返岗务工人员提供服务。ree of charge /friː əv tʃɑːrdʒ/免费top priority /tɒp praɪˈɒrəti/重中之重；最优先事项shuttle services /ˈʃʌtəl ˈsɜːrvɪsɪz/接驳服务；班车服务

Bringing American to life in Newberry this Spring and Summer. April 11th Spring Festival reenactments of Revolutionary history, July 3rd parade and Independence Day festivities, and September 19th honoring the Constitution. Mayor Tim Marden on the special history events

Another Chinese New Year celebration has just wrapped, but this year felt different. We saw robots trading folk dances for high-speed kung fu, AI assistants causing literal "bubble tea meltdowns" in the real world, and digital clones of celebrities showing up in kitchens where they definitely weren't invited. It was a week where the line between "festive tradition" and "Black Mirror episode" got a little blurry. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun.

Some lesser-known or small Chinese towns and cities — with a strong festive ambience during Chinese New Year — alongside Neo-Chinese style destinations, have experienced "wealth beyond measure" during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday. Both domestic and international tourists have shown a tendency to linger in these areas.在为期9天的春节假期期间，一些不太出名的小城镇以及新中式风格的旅游目的地迎来了"泼天富贵"。国内游客和外国游客都喜欢在这些地方多玩几天。This year's extended Spring Festival holiday, which began on Feb 15 and concluded on Monday, inspired widespread travel.今年春节假期从2月15日开始，到2月23日结束，激发了人们的出游热情。"It's really stunning looking down at the lantern show from the ancient city walls. I felt like I was traveling back in time," said Sha Anna as she marveled at a lantern show on Feb 17 in Datong, Shanxi province. The Beijing resident visited the picturesque ancient city with family.北京居民沙安娜（音译）2月17日与家人一起游览了山西省大同市的古城。她在欣赏灯会时感叹道："从古城墙上俯瞰灯会，真的很震撼。我感觉自己穿越回了古代。"The city rose to popularity after the release of the Chinese-developed video game Black Myth: Wukong in 2024, which features several game scenes closely related to ancient Buddhist culture and Taoism.大同在2024年国产游戏《黑神话：悟空》发售后火了，这款游戏的几个场景与古老的佛教和道教文化密切相关。She said a desire to experience the lively festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year that differed from Beijing, led her to plan a trip to Datong — a city that boasts a rich cultural heritage. "The food here is also very delicious, especially the knife-cut noodles. The city left us with memories of historical legacies and human touch, and we will come back next Spring Festival."沙安娜说，她想体验与北京不同的热闹新年气氛，于是计划去大同旅游。大同市拥有丰富的文化遗产。她说："这里的食物也非常美味，尤其是刀削面。这座城市给我们留下了历史遗产和人情味的记忆，明年春节我们还会来。"Lively discussions on Datong and many other niche but attractive towns and small cities circulated online during the Spring Festival holiday. Their distinctive celebration practices, flavorful cuisine and strong cultural heritage have generated interest from tourists looking for unique experiences.春节期间，大同和许多其他小众但具有吸引力的城镇在网上引发了热议。它们独特的庆祝方式、风味美食和深厚的文化底蕴吸引了寻求独特体验的游客。Data from travel portal Tuniu shows that the number of tourists to Baoting Li and Miao autonomous county in South China's Hainan province and Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture in Southwest China's Yunnan province increased twofold compared with the previous Spring Festival period, as these places enjoy distinctive and exotic ethnic cultures. Destinations such as Chao zhou in Guangdong province, Shang rao and Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province have seen tourist numbers double year-on-year.旅游门户途牛网的数据显示，前往海南省保亭黎族苗族自治县和云南省德宏傣族景颇族自治州的游客数量比上一个春节增加了一倍，这些地方拥有独特而富有异域风情的民族文化。广东潮州、江西上饶和景德镇等目的地的游客数量同比翻了一番。Qunar, another online travel agency, noted strong enthusiasm among young people for Neo-Chinese style destinations — which blend contemporary and traditional Chinese cultures — during the holiday period. The agency reported that some history or novel-based theme parks like Millennium City Park and Wansui Mountain Wuxia City in Henan province were among the top destinations on their platform during the holiday.另一家在线旅游机构去哪儿网指出，假期期间，年轻人对新中式风格旅游目的地的热情很高。该机构报告称，河南的清明上河园和万岁山武侠城等一些历史或小说主题公园是假期期间其平台上最受欢迎的目的地之一。The extended holiday also stimulated Chinese people's desire for long-distance overseas trips. According to Qunar, between Feb 15 and Monday, its users flew to nearly 1,000 cities worldwide. The most popular overseas destinations were those with shorter flight times, friendly visa policies and milder climates, including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.这个长假也刺激了中国人出国长途旅行的欲望。根据去哪儿网的数据，2月15日至23日期间，去哪儿网的用户飞往全球近1000个城市。最受欢迎的海外目的地是飞行时间较短、签证政策友好、气候温和的地方，包括曼谷、吉隆坡和香港。Among the travelers who went overseas was Zhang Yi, who took a four-day trip to Thailand with her family and returned to Shanghai on Sunday. "It was our third time visiting the country, but the first time celebrating Chinese New Year there. Thailand is a good place to relax," she said.张怡（音译）是出境游的游客之一，她与家人去泰国玩了四天，于周日返回上海。她说："这是我们第三次去泰国，但第一次在那里庆祝中国新年。泰国是个放松身心的好地方。"Qunar also noted that many of its users spent the Spring Festival holiday in Italy, the host nation of the recently concluded Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. "Based on our figures, flight ticket bookings to Italy on Feb 14 and Feb 15 — the day before the Spring Festival holiday started and the first day of the holiday — increased by 64 percent compared with the previous two days," it said.去哪儿网还指出，许多用户选择在意大利度过春节假期。意大利是最近结束的2026年米兰-科尔蒂纳冬奥会的主办国。该机构表示："根据我们的数据，2月14日和2月15日前往意大利的机票预订量与前两天相比增长了64%。"Additionally, the social media trend "becoming Chinese" has extended to the tourism market, with an increasing number of international travelers visiting the mainland during the Spring Festival holiday to partake in festivities. In 2024, Spring Festival was officially inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, enhancing its global influence.此外，社交媒体上"成为中国人"的热潮也延伸到了旅游市场，越来越多的外国游客在春节期间来内地旅游。2024年春节被列入联合国教科文组织人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录，提升了其在全球的影响力。Data from Qunar shows that flight bookings to the mainland made by travelers holding non-Chinese passports grew by 20 percent year-on-year during the holiday.去哪儿网的数据显示，春节期间，持非中国护照的旅客赴内地机票预订量同比增长20%。Top destinations for these international travelers included not just big cities like Shanghai and Beijing but also lesser-known places like Jinggangshan in Jiangxi and Altay in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.这些国际游客的主要目的地不仅包括上海、北京这样的大城市，还包括江西井冈山、新疆维吾尔自治区阿勒泰等不太知名的地方。"Most of these travelers came from South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, and the United States. Domestic places with richer festive atmospheres and celebration events are most attractive to them," said Qunar, adding that travel trends among international travelers have transformed from quick sightseeing excursions to immersive experiences of Chinese traditions.去哪儿网表示："这些游客大多来自韩国、越南、新加坡、澳大利亚和美国。节日氛围和庆祝活动更丰富的国内地方对他们最有吸引力。"该机构指出，国际游客的旅游趋势已从快速观光游览转变为沉浸式体验中国传统。niche /niːʃ/ 小众的；定位明确的festive ambience /ˈfestɪv ˈæmbiəns/ 节日气氛linger in /ˈlɪŋɡə(r) ɪn/ 在……逗留；流连于picturesque /ˌpɪktʃəˈresk/ 风景如画的rise to popularity /raɪz tuː ˌpɒpjuˈlærəti/ 流行起来；走红human touch /ˈhjuːmən tʌtʃ/ 人情味year-on-year /ˌjɜːr ɒn ˈjɪr/ 同比Millennium City Park /mɪˈleniəm ˈsɪti pɑːk/ 清明上河园sightseeing excursions /ˈsaɪtsiːɪŋ ɪkˈskɜːʃənz/ 观光游览；短途旅游

The fireworks have faded, the reunions have ended, and the last dumpling is a distant memory. Now the numbers are in. The receipts, the records, and the data that reveals what kind of holiday this year's Spring Festival really was. From tourism hauls to box office gold, we break down how China rang in its Year of the Horse. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

The national railway operator recorded 121 million passenger trips over the nine-day holiday, up 11.5 percent. Goods transported rose by half a percent to over 85 million metric tons. Film box office revenue exceeded 5.7 billion yuan.

China's tourism sector showed strong momentum during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday. The country recorded 596 million domestic trips while domestic tourism spending totaled over 803 billion yuan.

春节特辑｜10 个待客小物件英文，零基础也能说春节过年家里来客人，这些待客小物件天天都要用！开瓶器、水果刀、粘毛器、红包、牙签、牙线…… 看似不起眼，却能让招待更周到。今天这期春节特辑，就带你一次性学会 10 个超实用待客小物件英文，简单好记、零基础也能轻松开口，快点学起来吧！red envelope [red ˈenvələʊp] lucky money[ˈlʌki ˈmʌni] 红包I received many red envelopes during the Spring Festival.春节期间我收到了很多红包。bottle opener [ˈbɒtl̩ əʊpənər] 开瓶器I need a bottle opener to open this beer.我需要一个开瓶器打开这瓶啤酒。fruit knife [fruːt naɪf] 水果刀This fruit knife is very sharp.这把水果刀很锋利。peeler [ˈpiːlər] 削皮器Use a peeler to peel the apple.用削皮器把苹果削皮。lint roller [lɪnt ˈroʊlər] n. 粘毛器Use a lint roller to clean your coat.用粘毛器清理你的外套。garbage bag [ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ bæɡ] 垃圾袋Take out the garbage bag, please.请把垃圾袋拿出去。remote control [rɪˈməʊt kənˈtrəʊl] 遥控器Where is the TV remote control?电视遥控器在哪里？ashtray [ˈæʃtreɪ] 烟灰缸Please put the ash in the ashtray.请把烟灰放在烟灰缸里。toothpick [ˈtuːθpɪk] 牙签Use a toothpick after eating.吃完东西用牙签。dental floss 牙线[ˈdentl flɔːs]Use dental floss to clean between your teeth.用牙线清洁牙缝。28期爱趣英文开启限额招募，跟着卡卡老师彻底摆脱懒癌，全面系统提升！公众号：卡卡课堂 卡卡老师微信：kakayingyu002

Beijing has added 20 Japanese entities to an export control list to curb Tokyo's attempts at re-militarization and acquiring nuclear weapons (01:08). The U.S. is reportedly considering new tariffs, while warning trade partners against reneging on deals after the Supreme Court ruled most of the previous duties illegal (07:43). China saw strong growth in travel and consumer spending over the Spring Festival holiday period, with railway traffic and box office revenue surging (21:54).

① China's Spring Festival holiday has delivered striking economic signals. Are we witnessing a structural shift toward experience-driven, service-led consumption in the country? (00:59) ② China has announced export control measures against 20 Japanese entities involved in boosting Japan's military capabilities. Why is China's concern about Japan's remilitarization and nuclear ambitions legitimate? (11:52) ③ New Zealand's prime minister gives his take on multilateralism and free trade. (24:07) ④ The EU has failed to approve additional sanctions on Moscow and a key loan for Kyiv. As the war in Ukraine marks its 4th anniversary, what's its outlook? (32:35) ⑤ Cuba is grappling with fuel shortages as the US moves to choke off the country's oil supplies, but Canada says it plans to provide assistance to Cuba. Is this generating another rift between Washington and Ottawa? (43:23)

China's Spring Festival travel rush hit a historic high on Feb 20, with daily cross-regional passenger trips exceeding 350 million, according to data released by the Ministry of Transport on Saturday.据交通运输部周六发布的数据显示，2 月 20 日中国春运客流创下历史新高，单日跨区域旅客出行量突破 3.5 亿人次。On Feb 20, the 19th day of the 2026 Spring Festival travel season, cross-regional passenger traffic reached a remarkable 352.999 million trips.2 月 20 日是 2026 年春运第 19 天，当日跨区域旅客运输量达到 3.52999 亿人次。This figure represents a 12.3 percent increase compared to the same day in the 2025 Spring Festival travel season, setting a new record.这一数据较 2025 年春运同期增长 12.3%，创下新纪录。The Spring Festival, which is also known as Chinese New Year, falls on Feb 17 this year, and the official holiday lasts nine days.今年春节（农历新年）为 2 月 17 日，法定假期共 9 天。The annual travel rush, "chun yun," is often described as the world's largest human migration.一年一度的春运被称为全球最大规模的人口迁徙。It is expected to see a record 9.5 billion inter-regional passenger trips during the 40-day rush from Feb 2 to March 13 this year.今年春运为期 40 天，时间为 2 月 2 日至 3 月 13 日，预计跨区域旅客出行量将达到创纪录的 95 亿人次。

Today's Episode:Robots performing kung fu on the Spring Festival Gala?

China's railways have recorded 258 million passenger trips so far during this year's 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, with the peak travel period reaching its halfway point.

China's Spring Festival box office has surpassed four billion yuan, or about 580 million US dollars. This year's lineup features a wide variety of genres, including comedy, action, animation and sci-fi.

Online ticketing platforms report that takings for the 2026 Spring Festival releases had surpassed 3.2 billion yuan by Friday afternoon, or more than 460 million U.S. dollars.

China's consumer sector has received an early boost during the Spring Festival holiday, with strong spending on shopping, dining and travel across the country.

The Spring Festival shopping season has been strong, with strong spending on shopping, dining, and travel across China (01:05). The US president is reportedly considering a limited strike against military and government targets to pressure Iran into a new nuclear deal (13:39). Former President Yoon Suk-yeol has apologized to the South Korean public after his conviction and life sentence on insurrection charges (23:06).

Happy Chinese New Year! The annual celebration of Chinese New Year has evolved into a powerful symbol of the deepening ties between China and Africa. As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we explore the symbolic meaning of the horse in both Chinese and African traditions and key themes and milestones lie ahead for China-Africa relations in the new year.

The latest trilateral talks on the four-year Ukraine conflict have come to an end without any breakthrough reported (01:04). A court in South Korea has sentenced the country's former president to life in prison on insurrection charges (10:34). Travel numbers in China, including visits by foreign nationals, continue to surge over the Spring Festival holiday (19:01).

The Year of the Horse is bringing new energy to Spring Festival celebrations around the world! From time-honored customs to modern creativity, how are traditions being refreshed for younger audiences and international viewers? And how does horse culture help bridge the past with today's artistic expression? In this special festive edition of The Hub, our guests share stories, insights, and memories of the Spring Festival, explore the meaning of the Chinese zodiac, and discuss how culture connects people across borders. They also send their Chinese New Year greetings to audiences around the globe, wishing everyone joy, success, and a wonderful Year of the Horse!

Festivals reveal a society's values. In China, few moments do so like Spring Festival, especially from the second day onward, when private rituals become public celebration. Welcoming the son-in-law and worshipping ancestors and gods once reflected an agrarian world of kinship and survival. Today, these same customs sit alongside malls, livestreamed fairs, and global audiences. What happens when tradition meets urbanization and technology? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yangyang

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Beyond the Wall: A Journey of Courage and Friendship Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-18-23-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 明宇站在长城的入口，呼吸着刺骨的寒风。En: Mingyu stood at the entrance of the Great Wall, breathing in the biting cold wind.Zh: 他和班上的同学在冬天的长城参加学校组织的历史文化学习旅行。En: He and his classmates were on a school-organized history and culture study trip to the Great Wall in the winter.Zh: 今天的长城，银装素裹，加上春节的红灯笼，显得格外喜庆。En: Today, the Great Wall was dressed in a silver garb, and with the addition of red lanterns for the Spring Festival, it looked especially festive.Zh: 明宇是个安静的男生。En: Mingyu was a quiet boy.Zh: 他常常觉得自己被班上的其他活泼的同学所掩盖。En: He often felt overshadowed by the other lively classmates in the class.Zh: 他心里暗自希望这次能给李华留下好的印象。En: He secretly hoped to leave a good impression on Li Hua this time.Zh: 李华是一个好奇心强，喜欢冒险的女生，她总是能找到不一样的路径和角度。En: Li Hua was a girl with a strong curiosity and a love for adventure; she always managed to find different paths and perspectives.Zh: 一路上，寒风刺骨，风雪让许多同学步履维艰。En: Along the way, the cold wind was piercing, and the snow made it difficult for many classmates to walk.Zh: 明宇紧了紧围巾，回头看见李华正好奇地环顾四周。En: Mingyu tightened his scarf and looked back to see Li Hua curiously surveying her surroundings.Zh: 他想到一本书里提到过的一个鲜有人知的长城的部分。En: He remembered a lesser-known part of the Great Wall mentioned in a book.Zh: 在这恶劣天气下，这可能是一个让李华刮目相看的机会。En: In this harsh weather, this might be an opportunity to impress Li Hua.Zh: “李华，我知道一个有趣的地方，我们去看看吧。”明宇心里虽然紧张，但还是鼓起勇气说道。En: "Li Hua, I know of an interesting place, let's go check it out," Mingyu said, gathering his courage despite feeling nervous.Zh: 李华点点头，跟着明宇走上一条看似隐蔽的小径。En: Li Hua nodded and followed Mingyu onto what appeared to be a hidden path.Zh: 两人走了一会儿，风却越来越大，雪越下越密。En: After they had been walking for a while, the wind grew stronger and the snow thicker.Zh: 忽然，李华一不小心踩到一块松动的石头，扭伤了脚。En: Suddenly, Li Hua accidentally stepped on a loose stone and twisted her ankle.Zh: 看到李华因痛苦而皱起的眉头，明宇心中一紧。En: Seeing the pain crease Li Hua's brow, Mingyu's heart tightened.Zh: 此时，展示领导力和友谊的时候到了。En: This was the moment to demonstrate leadership and friendship.Zh: 他深吸一口气，坚定地说道：“我会帮你回去。”En: He took a deep breath and resolutely said, "I'll help you get back."Zh: 他小心翼翼地扶着李华，慢慢地往回走。En: He carefully supported Li Hua and slowly started walking back.Zh: 为了给她分担一些重量，明宇尽可能稳当地移动，每一步都充满了决心和细心。En: To ease her burden, Mingyu moved as steadily as possible, each step full of determination and care.Zh: 途中，他们不时看到周围挂着的红灯笼随风摇曳，那是新年的节日气息。En: Along the way, they occasionally saw the red lanterns swinging in the wind, symbolizing the festive spirit of the New Year.Zh: 最终，明宇成功地把李华带回队伍。En: Finally, Mingyu successfully brought Li Hua back to the group.Zh: 所有的人都松了口气。En: Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.Zh: 李华对明宇投来了感激的目光，微微一笑。En: Li Hua gave Mingyu a grateful look and a slight smile.Zh: 明宇心中一阵温暖，仿佛也被冬日的阳光照亮了。En: Mingyu's heart warmed, as if illuminated by the winter sun.Zh: 这次经历后，明宇明白了，领导力不仅仅表现在大场面上，而是体现在这些小小的、但至关重要的行动中。En: After this experience, Mingyu understood that leadership is not only displayed in grand scenarios but is also reflected in these small yet crucial acts.Zh: 他认识到自己也能做到，并且在这个过程中获得了友谊和自信。En: He realized that he could do it, and in the process gained friendship and confidence.Zh: 这趟长城之旅，原来不仅是对历史的学习，更是一场自我的成长。En: This trip to the Great Wall was not just about learning history, but also a journey of personal growth. Vocabulary Words:biting: 刺骨的overshadowed: 掩盖piercing: 刺骨steadily: 稳当地resentfully: 感激地illuminated: 照亮garb: 银装burden: 负担demonstrate: 展示resolutely: 坚定地support: 扶着creativity: 创意curiosity: 好奇心adventure: 冒险scenarios: 场面perspectives: 角度opportunity: 机会lesser-known: 鲜有人知的uncommon: 不常见symbolizing: 象征festive: 喜庆relief: 松了一口气twisted: 扭伤了determination: 决心crucial: 至关重要的companionship: 友谊knowledge: 知识confidence: 自信embraced: 拥抱convey: 传达

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Lost and Found at the Festive Great Wall: A Spring Festival Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-18-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 长城在雪花下显得格外庄严，与往日不同，今天天空下飘着几分节日的气氛。En: The Great Wall looked particularly solemn under the snowflakes, different from usual, with a hint of festivity floating in the air today.Zh: 大红灯笼在墙垛间摇曳着，为这古老的长墙增添了几分喜庆。En: Big red lanterns swayed between the ramparts, adding a touch of celebration to the ancient wall.Zh: 明天就是春节，许多人到长城来参加巡游。En: Tomorrow is the Spring Festival, and many people have come to the Great Wall to participate in the parade.Zh: 梅在人群中急切地寻找着，她的弟弟李不见了。En: Mei was anxiously searching through the crowd; her younger brother Li was missing.Zh: 李年纪小，常常充满好奇心，今天被巡游的热闹吸引，一转眼就不知跑到哪儿去了。En: Being young, Li is often filled with curiosity and was drawn to the excitement of the parade today, disappearing in the blink of an eye.Zh: 梅焦急万分，她必须在巡游结束前找到李，不然就赶不上全家团聚。En: Mei was extremely worried, as she had to find Li before the parade ended, or they wouldn't make it to the family gathering.Zh: 梅穿过人群，寒风中夹杂着雪花，视线很差。En: Mei pushed through the crowd, with snowflakes mixed in the cold wind making visibility poor.Zh: 她的心里充满焦虑。En: Her heart was full of anxiety.Zh: 这时，一个年轻的导游走了过来。En: At this moment, a young tour guide approached.Zh: 他叫小翔，是本地人，熟悉这里的每一个角落。En: His name was Xiaoxiang, a local familiar with every corner here.Zh: 小翔说：“我可以帮你找到弟弟。En: Xiaoxiang said, "I can help you find your brother."Zh: ”梅犹豫了一下，毕竟他是个陌生人。En: Mei hesitated, as he was a stranger.Zh: 但看着四周越来越多的人群，她决定相信小翔。En: But seeing more and more people around, she decided to trust Xiaoxiang.Zh: 两人一边喊着李的名字，一边沿着长城奔跑。En: The two of them ran along the Great Wall, calling out Li's name.Zh: 梅的心跳得很快，她怕如果不快点找到李，他会很危险。En: Mei's heart was beating fast; she feared that if she didn't find Li soon, he might be in danger.Zh: 很快，他们来到了一段陡峭的墙边，梅突然看到一个小小的身影摇摇晃晃地站在边上，那是李！En: Quickly, they arrived at a steep section of the wall, and Mei suddenly saw a small figure teetering on the edge - it was Li!Zh: “李！En: "Li!"Zh: ”梅大喊，她心都提到了嗓子眼。En: Mei shouted, her heart in her throat.Zh: 小翔迅速走上前，用手拉住梅，帮助她稳住自己。En: Xiaoxiang swiftly stepped up, holding onto Mei to help her steady herself.Zh: 梅小心地走近李，“站住，别动！En: Mei carefully approached Li, "Stay still, don't move!"Zh: ”她拉住了弟弟，终于把他安全地拉到了墙的安全区域。En: She grabbed her brother and finally pulled him safely back to the secure area of the wall.Zh: 李有些慌，但他还是对姐姐笑了，说：“姐姐，我看到了好大的灯笼！En: Li was a bit shaken, but he still smiled at his sister and said, "Sister, I saw such a big lantern!"Zh: ”梅紧紧抱住了他，感受着他温暖的体温。En: Mei hugged him tightly, feeling his warm body heat.Zh: 和小翔一起，他们成功赶上了家里春节团聚的时段。En: With Xiaoxiang's help, they successfully made it to the family's Spring Festival gathering.Zh: 在回家的路上，梅感谢小翔的帮助，小翔只笑了笑：“过年嘛，大家帮助是应该的。En: On the way home, Mei thanked Xiaoxiang for his help, and Xiaoxiang just smiled and said, "It's New Year, everyone should help each other."Zh: ”这个春节，梅真正认识到了信任的重要性，也更加珍惜和家人在一起的时光。En: This Spring Festival, Mei truly realized the importance of trust and cherished the time with her family even more.Zh: 长城在夕阳的映照下辉煌无比，那样的景象，将永远留在梅的心中。En: The Great Wall, illuminated by the sunset, was magnificent, a sight that would forever remain in Mei's heart. Vocabulary Words:solemn: 庄严hint: 几分festivity: 节日ramparts: 墙垛anxiously: 急切地curiosity: 好奇心visibility: 视线anxiety: 焦虑approached: 走了过来hesitated: 犹豫teetering: 摇摇晃晃secure: 安全的shaken: 慌cherished: 珍惜illuminated: 映照magnificent: 辉煌parade: 巡游participate: 参加extremely: 万分disappearing: 不知跑到哪儿去了swiftly: 迅速figure: 身影steep: 陡峭stranger: 陌生人steady: 稳住trust: 信任gathering: 团聚familiar: 熟悉section: 墙边sister: 姐姐

Spring Festival in Beijing is no longer just about temple fairs and red lanterns. This year, the celebrations also feature VR experiences, humanoid robots, and AI-generated performances. In this edition of our Year of the Horse special, we look at how emerging technologies are becoming part of the holiday atmosphere. We discuss what this integration of tech means for cultural expression, creativity, and public confidence. Is AI simply a tool, or is it reshaping how traditions are experienced?

① Robots ignite a sales frenzy after the Spring Festival Gala show. What does it reveal about China's structural industrial breakthrough? (00:40) ② China's Spring Festival holiday kicks off strong, with box office and travel surging. What's behind the holiday spending boom? (12:58) ③ China's space economy: from launchpads to markets. (25:00)

China is entering the Year of the Fire Horse — a zodiac pairing that comes around just once every 60 years. The last time was 1966, the year the Cultural Revolution began. So is this simply symbolism… or could it hint at something more? In this special Lunar New Year episode of China Decode, Alice Han is joined by writer and commentator Lijia Zhang to unpack the meaning — and the mythology — behind the Fire Horse. They explore how astrology, politics, and economics intersect at a pivotal moment for China. From falling birth rates and zodiac baby booms to record-breaking Spring Festival travel, what does this year reveal about where China may be headed next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

China's Spring Festival box office has topped one billion yuan, or roughly 144 million U.S. dollars, as of Tuesday afternoon.

The Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. negotiators including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have held another round of talks, with tensions running high following an Iranian military drill and the deployment of U.S. aircraft carriers (13:06). Spring Festival celebrations are taking place across China and beyond with world capitals and major cities sharing the holiday spirit with cultural activities (01:04). And Gu Ailing has doubled her medal haul at Milano-Cortina 2026, adding another silver medal for China in women's big air (26:23).

① What new trends are emerging in China's 2026 Spring Festival? (00:40) ② Hungarian State Folk Ensemble joins CMG's 2026 Spring Festival Gala for cross-cultural celebration. (15:07) ③ Why is "Becoming Chinese" going viral overseas? (24:30)

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart CHINA'S NEV BOOM MEETS SPRING FESTIVAL CHARGING TEST https://evne.ws/3OLOVVc CHINA'S SMALL NEV SALES SLUMP AFTER TAX BREAK ENDS https://evne.ws/4s045Vu NIO SWAPS HIT 146,649 IN ONE DAY https://evne.ws/4kCv6vq CHINA TO FORCE PHYSICAL CAR CONTROLS FROM 2027 https://evne.ws/4tElWTm GEELY EYES GROWTH WITHOUT NEW FACTORIES https://evne.ws/4rRsuMD LI AUTO HELPS POLICE HIT FAKE CHARGER HUB https://evne.ws/4qLHL0t MERCEDES-BENZ TO RECALL 19,481 EVS IN CHINA https://evne.ws/3MPNVii XIAOMI YU7 TOPS CHINA SALES AS MODEL Y SLUMPS https://evne.ws/4tHQsM4 BYD PLOTS SEALION 06 DM-I UPGRADE FOR 2026 https://evne.ws/4aWapr2 FARLEY FLOATS CHINA-US AUTO JOINT VENTURE MODEL https://evne.ws/4c0XaGG

Across history, three rhythms define Spring Festival: the journey home, the way people gather, and the form celebration takes. In this series, Round Table traces these transformations through a sustained conversation between ancient and modern China. We explore how going home, celebrating together, and holiday fun have been reshaped across dynasties, technologies, and generations. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Fei Fei

Today's lesson is a bit different and quite special. We have a 20 minute Chinese New Year calligraphy lesson for you all to join in with. Join newbie learner Karl and advanced learner Natasha as they learn to write some common sayings and characters to write during Spring Festival. We will learn all about why you see certain characters such as 春 and 满 everywhere during this time, and also the meaning behind the red sheets of paper on either side of a door seen during this festival. If you don't know any of this, no problem. Get your calligraphy pens at the ready, and prepare for a spot of relaxing calligraphy. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2835

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unveiling the Forbidden City's Long-Lost Secrets Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-16-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬天的北京，紫禁城被一层薄薄的雪覆盖着。En: In the winter of Beijing, the Forbidden City was covered with a thin layer of snow.Zh: 鲜红的灯笼悬挂在宫墙间，点亮了冬日的夜空，增添了节日的气氛。En: Bright red lanterns hung between the palace walls, lighting up the winter night sky and adding to the festive atmosphere.Zh: 李伟是个专注的历史学家，他在城里走动，总是带着对历史深厚的敬意。En: Li Wei is a dedicated historian who walks through the city always carrying a deep respect for history.Zh: 有一天，李伟在一处石雕间发现了一张古老而神秘的纸条。En: One day, Li Wei discovered an ancient and mysterious note among some stone carvings.Zh: 纸条上的字迹潦草而古老，他感到心中泛起一阵好奇与激动。En: The handwriting on the paper was sloppy and old, stirring a sense of curiosity and excitement in him.Zh: 他坚信，这张纸条蕴藏着关于紫禁城的重要秘密。En: He believed firmly that this note concealed an important secret about the Forbidden City.Zh: 新年临近，他的朋友明与佳正忙于准备春节的庆祝活动。En: As the New Year approached, his friends Ming and Jia were busy preparing for the Spring Festival celebrations.Zh: 李伟知道，春节时节是合家团圆的日子，人人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中，但他始终惦记着那个纸条上的秘密。En: Li Wei knew that the Spring Festival is a time for family reunions and everyone is immersed in the festive cheer, yet he couldn't stop thinking about the secret on that note.Zh: 李伟试图解读那些古文字，但总是徒劳无功。En: Li Wei attempted to decipher those ancient characters, but his efforts were always in vain.Zh: 他请求明和佳的帮助，但他们对此表示怀疑：“这个可能只是个玩笑吧，过来一起庆祝新年嘛！En: He asked for help from Ming and Jia, but they were skeptical: "This might just be a joke, come join us to celebrate the New Year!"Zh: ”节日的喧嚣使李伟难以专注。En: The hustle and bustle of the festival made it hard for Li Wei to focus.Zh: 终于，李伟决定求助于一些熟悉古文字的老人。En: Finally, Li Wei decided to seek help from some elderly people familiar with ancient scripts.Zh: 他们耐心地向他解释这些字迹的可能含义。En: They patiently explained the possible meanings of the handwriting to him.Zh: 在长辈们的指导下，李伟终于在除夕夜的午夜掌握了些许线索。En: With the guidance of these elders, Li Wei finally grasped some clues at midnight on New Year's Eve.Zh: 钟声敲响十二点，新年到来，烟花升空。En: As the clock struck twelve and the New Year arrived, fireworks lit up the sky.Zh: 就在这时，李伟终于解读出纸条的意义。En: At that moment, Li Wei finally deciphered the meaning of the note.Zh: 它详细描述了一种失传已久的仪式，曾在紫禁城隆重举行，是古老的传统之一。En: It detailed a long-lost ritual that was once grandly performed in the Forbidden City, one of the ancient traditions.Zh: 这个发现顿时引起了历史学界的注意。En: This discovery immediately caught the attention of the historical community.Zh: 人们对于这个被遗忘的仪式产生了浓厚的兴趣。En: People developed a keen interest in this forgotten ritual.Zh: 李伟的努力不但得到了认可，也给大家带来了一种新的节日传统。En: Li Wei's efforts not only gained recognition but also brought a new tradition to the festivities.Zh: 通过这次经历，李伟明白了集思广益的重要性。En: Through this experience, Li Wei realized the importance of collective wisdom.Zh: 他学会了更加开放地接纳他人的意见，意识到解决历史之谜常常需要大家的共同努力。En: He learned to be more open to accepting others' opinions and understood that solving historical mysteries often requires everyone's joint efforts.Zh: 在节日欢乐的背景下，李伟不仅获得了成功，也更多了一份对团结合作的理解。En: Against the backdrop of holiday cheer, Li Wei not only achieved success but also gained a deeper understanding of the value of unity and cooperation. Vocabulary Words:thin layer: 薄薄的dedicated: 专注的historian: 历史学家handwriting: 字迹sloppy: 潦草ancient: 古老concealed: 蕴藏approached: 临近reunions: 团圆decipher: 解读vain: 徒劳skeptical: 怀疑hustle and bustle: 喧嚣patiently: 耐心地guidance: 指导grasped: 掌握ritual: 仪式grandly: 隆重keen interest: 浓厚的兴趣collective wisdom: 集思广益accepting: 接纳joint efforts: 共同努力unity: 团结cooperation: 合作recognized: 认可mysterious: 神秘curiosity: 好奇excitement: 激动festival: 节日immersed: 沉浸

Where will Chinese tourists head for the longest Spring Festival holiday in history? How will regional travel hold up for the Lunar New Year break? And will the close proximity of the LNY and the Eid holiday seasons influence travel patterns in parts of South East Asia? On our fast-paced Start The Week show, Gary and Hannah stop over in,Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Bahrain, London & Amsterdam in search of the answers to travel's big questions. En route, we discuss short-term rental sector challenges in the Philippines, and European flight expansions by Air Asia X, Vietnam Airlines & Thai Airways. Plus, we find out how much travellers would be prepared to pay to drive across the planned bridge connecting eastern Thailand with Koh Samui - and how would this affect the popular ferry routes?

The Spring Festival Gala leverages AI-generated imagery and stage extension technologies to enhance the visual presentation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, among others, have wished Chinese people a happy New Year and expressed wishes for more cooperation in the Year of the Horse.

Hundreds of millions of Chinese people are taking advantage of a long Spring Festival holiday, reuniting with family or traveling, as festivities across the country heat up on Chinese New Year's Eve (01:13). Iran and the United States are preparing for a new round of talks in Geneva although stark differences remain (14:15). And Japan's economic growth fell well short of expectation in Q4 2025 amid weak business spending and faltering exports (21:43).

Xi Extends Spring Festival Greetings, Travel Rush Hits Record Highs, China-Russia Strategic Talks, AU Summit Congratulations by Capital FM

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Liang's Choice: Balancing Career Ambitions and Family Bonds Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-15-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 雪花轻轻飘落城市的屋檐，远处的街道上挂满了红色的灯笼。En: Snowflakes gently drifted onto the roofs of the city, with red lanterns hanging all over the distant streets.Zh: 玻璃墙的办公室里，梁用力揉了揉眼睛，看着桌上的文件。En: In the office with glass walls, Liang rubbed his eyes vigorously as he looked at the documents on the table.Zh: 他知道，这个商业会议对他的事业非常重要。En: He knew that this business meeting was extremely important to his career.Zh: 这是他的机会，他想到。En: "This is my chance," he thought.Zh: 他想在老板面前展现自己的工作能力，以期在新的一年里获得晋升。En: He wanted to showcase his work ability in front of his boss, hoping to get a promotion in the new year.Zh: 然而正值春节，家里的人也在期待着他的归来。En: However, it was chunjie (Spring Festival), and his family was also expecting his return.Zh: 每年这个时候，全家人聚在一起，欢度佳节。En: Every year at this time, the whole family would gather together to celebrate the festive season.Zh: 然而，今年与往年不同。En: However, this year was different from previous years.Zh: 梅琳是梁的同事，也是他的导师。En: Meilin was Liang's colleague and also his mentor.Zh: 梅琳工作多年，习惯了在事业和生活之间取得平衡。En: Having worked for many years, Meilin was used to striking a balance between career and life.Zh: 当梁向她表达苦恼时，梅琳微微一笑，说：“工作重要，家人也重要。En: When Liang expressed his distress to her, Meilin smiled slightly and said, "Work is important, but so is family.Zh: 有些时候，你要做个艰难的决定。En: Sometimes, you have to make a tough decision."Zh: ”雪还在下，会议室内渐渐热闹起来，大家都在紧张地准备着。En: The snow continued to fall as the meeting room gradually became lively, with everyone nervously preparing.Zh: 就在这时，梁的手机突然震动了一下，是家里的信息。En: Just then, Liang's phone suddenly vibrated; it was a message from home.Zh: 他的心跳漏了一拍。En: His heart skipped a beat.Zh: 家里出了一点紧急情况，他需要立刻回去。En: There was a minor emergency at home, and he needed to return immediately.Zh: 内心的画面一闪而过，一个是闪烁的城市霓虹灯和满桌的商业文件；另一个是温暖的家、微笑的家人。En: In his mind, two images flashed by: one was the neon lights of the city and tables full of business documents; the other was a warm home with smiling family members.Zh: 他的心开始左右摇摆。En: His heart began to sway.Zh: 这一刻，他必须做出选择。En: At this moment, he had to make a choice.Zh: “梁，你准备好了吗？En: "Liang, are you ready?"Zh: ”老板的声音把他拉回了现实。En: The boss's voice pulled him back to reality.Zh: 梁将手机放回口袋，拿起文件起身。En: Liang put his phone back in his pocket, picked up the documents, and stood up.Zh: 但他突然停住了，低声对梅琳说：“我想，我知道该选择什么了。En: But he suddenly stopped, and said softly to Meilin, "I think I know what I should choose."Zh: ”梁迅速离开了会议室。En: Liang quickly left the meeting room.Zh: 他走得很快，雪中他的脚步越来越坚定。En: He walked swiftly, his steps in the snow growing more determined.Zh: 他知道即使在事业上，他也不愿失去那份深厚的传统与亲情的牵绊。En: He knew that even in his career, he did not want to lose the deep ties of tradition and family affection.Zh: 回到家里，梁受到了家人的热情欢迎。En: Back at home, Liang was warmly welcomed by his family.Zh: 虽然错过了会议，但他并不后悔这个决定。En: Although he missed the meeting, he did not regret this decision.Zh: 他意识到，事业固然重要，但家庭与文化传统同样值得珍视。En: He realized that while career is important, family and cultural traditions are equally worth cherishing.Zh: 在新的一年里，他隐隐感到内心的强大与平衡。En: In the new year, he vaguely felt a sense of strength and balance within.Zh: 故事最后，在新年的鞭炮声中，梁从与家人团聚的温暖中体会到了一种全新的力量。En: In the end, under the sound of New Year's firecrackers, Liang experienced a newfound strength from reuniting with his family.Zh: 他相信，下一次，他会更好地平衡这份事业和珍贵的传统。En: He believed that next time, he would better balance his career and precious traditions. Vocabulary Words:drifted: 飘落roof: 屋檐vigorously: 用力documents: 文件extremely: 非常showcase: 展现distress: 苦恼mentor: 导师striking: 取得balance: 平衡tough: 艰难emergency: 紧急情况vibrated: 震动flashed: 一闪而过neon: 霓虹灯sway: 摇摆determined: 坚定cherishing: 珍视reuniting: 团聚strength: 力量traditions: 传统affection: 亲情gather: 聚promotion: 晋升festive: 佳节reality: 现实hesitant: 犹豫welcomed: 欢迎cultivate: 培养regret: 后悔

China's railway authorities are expecting nearly 14 million passenger trips on the first day of the Spring Festival holiday on Sunday.

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Love Blossoms in the Káli-medence: A Spring Festival Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2026-02-14-23-34-02-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A Káli-medence télen, ahogy lassan átvált a tavaszba, különleges látványt nyújtott.En: The Káli-medence in winter, as it slowly transitions into spring, offered a special sight.Hu: A dombok hóval fedettek voltak, de már a nap melege érezhető volt.En: The hills were covered with snow, but the warmth of the sun was already noticeable.Hu: Az emberek összegyűltek a tavaszi fesztiválra, ami a helyi hagyományokat ünnepelte.En: People gathered for the spring festival, which celebrated local traditions.Hu: Bódék sorakoztak a macskaköves utcák mentén, tele házi készítésű szerekkel és kézműves termékekkel.En: Stalls lined the cobblestone streets, filled with homemade remedies and handcrafted goods.Hu: Zsófia, egy elszánt gyógynövénykutató, izgatottan készült a bemutatójára.En: Zsófia, a determined herbal researcher, was eagerly preparing for her presentation.Hu: Nemrég fedezett fel egy új gyógyírt, és alig várta, hogy megossza a közösséggel.En: She had recently discovered a new remedy and couldn't wait to share it with the community.Hu: De mélyen belül kissé félt is.En: But deep down, she was slightly fearful.Hu: Mi van, ha nem fogadják jól?En: What if it's not well-received?Hu: Közben Gergő is ott volt, egy helyi mesterember, aki csendesen csodálta Zsófiát.En: Meanwhile, Gergő was also there, a local craftsman who quietly admired Zsófia.Hu: Régóta szeretett volna közeledni hozzá, de nem tudta, hogyan tegye.En: For a long time, he wanted to approach her but didn't know how.Hu: Végül úgy döntött, hogy ajándékkal próbálkozik.En: He finally decided to try with a gift.Hu: A választása egy gyönyörűen faragott dobozra esett, amit helyi tájmotívumok díszítettek.En: He chose a beautifully carved box adorned with local landscape motifs.Hu: A fesztivál javában zajlott, amikor Zsófia számhoz lépett.En: The festival was in full swing when Zsófia took the stage.Hu: Hangja enyhén remegett, de erőt vett magán, és bemutatta az új gyógyírt.En: Her voice trembled slightly, but she gathered her strength and presented the new remedy.Hu: Az emberek figyeltek, érdeklődéssel fordultak felé.En: People listened, turning towards her with interest.Hu: Zsófia szíve gyorsabban vert, mikor befejezte a bemutatót, de aztán tapsot kapott.En: Zsófia's heart beat faster as she finished her presentation, but then she received applause.Hu: Megkönnyebbült.En: She was relieved.Hu: A közönségből előlépett Gergő.En: Gergő stepped forward from the audience.Hu: Kezében a faragott doboz, odalépett Zsófiához a tömeg előtt.En: Holding the carved box, he approached Zsófia in front of the crowd.Hu: Csendesen átnyújtotta az ajándékot.En: He silently handed over the gift.Hu: Zsófia meglepődött és meghatódott.En: Zsófia was surprised and moved.Hu: Arca kipirult, ahogy átvette a dobozt, és a pillantásuk találkozott.En: Her face blushed as she took the box, and their gazes met.Hu: "Köszönöm, Gergő," mondta Zsófia halkan.En: "Thank you, Gergő," Zsófia said softly.Hu: Érezte, hogy valami megváltozik benne.En: She felt something change within her.Hu: Rájött, hogy nem kell mindig elrejtenie a valódi érzéseit.En: She realized that she didn't always need to hide her true feelings.Hu: Gergő bátorsága átragadt rá.En: Gergő's courage rubbed off on her.Hu: A fesztivál hátralévő részében Zsófia és Gergő együtt sétáltak a bódék között.En: For the remainder of the festival, Zsófia and Gergő walked together among the stalls.Hu: Beszélgettek, nevettek, és mindketten úgy érezték, hogy egy új fejezet kezdődik az életükben.En: They talked, laughed, and both felt that a new chapter was beginning in their lives.Hu: Zsófia már nem félt megnyílni, míg Gergő megtanulta, hogy az őszinteség és a kockázatvállalás vezet a legszebb eredményekhez.En: Zsófia was no longer afraid to open up, while Gergő learned that honesty and taking risks lead to the most beautiful outcomes.Hu: Aznap este a Káli-medence dombjai alatt megszületett egy új kapcsolat.En: That evening, under the hills of the Káli-medence, a new relationship was born.Hu: A tavaszi szellő lágyan megborzolta Zsófia haját, és ahogy lenézett a dobozra, tudta, hogy élete gazdagabbá vált a szeretet által.En: The gentle spring breeze lightly tousled Zsófia's hair, and as she looked down at the box, she knew her life had been enriched by love. Vocabulary Words:transition: átváltoffered: nyújtottcobblestone: macskakövesdetermined: elszántherbal: gyógynövényresearcher: kutatópresentation: bemutatóeagerly: izgatottanremedy: gyógyírfearful: féltcraftsman: mesteremberadorned: díszítettekmotifs: tájmotívumoktrembled: remegettgathered: összegyűltekapplause: tapsrelieved: megkönnyebbültaudience: közönségcarved: faragottblushed: kipirultgazes: pillantásokcourage: bátorságenriched: gazdagabbáhonesty: őszinteségrisks: kockázatvállalásoutcomes: eredményektousled: megborzoltachapter: fejezetremedies: szerekhandcrafted: kézműves

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Mystery of the Vanished Tea Tree in Yunnan Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-14-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在云南茶园的冬天，寒风轻轻地吹过茶叶的芬芳。En: In the winter of a Yunnan tea garden, the cold wind gently carries the fragrance of the tea leaves.Zh: 明宇，一个勤奋的植物学家，漫步在茶叶之中。En: Mingyu, a diligent botanist, is strolling among the tea leaves.Zh: 他的目光专注地寻找着一株稀有的古茶树，这株茶树据说有几百年的历史。En: His gaze is intently searching for a rare ancient tea tree, said to be several hundred years old.Zh: 而与此同时，佳怡，一个当地的茶农，正在为即将到来的春节做好准备，挂着一盏盏红灯笼，给村子添了几分喜庆。En: Simultaneously, Jiayi, a local tea farmer, is preparing for the upcoming Spring Festival, hanging red lanterns to add a touch of festivity to the village.Zh: 几天前，这株珍贵的茶树神秘消失了。En: A few days ago, this precious tea tree mysteriously disappeared.Zh: 村里的人都说是因为这棵树富有灵气，不应该被打扰。En: The villagers say that this tree is full of spiritual energy and should not be disturbed.Zh: 一些人甚至说，外来者想把茶树卖掉。En: Some even suggest that outsiders want to sell the tea tree.Zh: 明宇非常着急，他来到茶园是想保护这棵茶树。En: Mingyu is very anxious; he has come to the tea garden to protect this tree.Zh: 而佳怡因为当地的传说，不敢过多干预。En: On the other hand, Jiayi, due to local legends, hesitates to intervene too much.Zh: 明宇决定不放弃。En: Mingyu decides not to give up.Zh: 他走访了当地的村民，逐一询问，并留心观察周围的环境变化。En: He visits the local villagers, questioning them one by one, while paying attention to any changes in the surroundings.Zh: 他看着远方的群山，想着如何破解这个谜团。En: As he looks at the distant mountains, he wonders how to solve this mystery.Zh: “也许，我应该去那个老仓库看看，”他心里想着。En: "Maybe I should check that old warehouse," he thinks to himself.Zh: 佳怡看在眼里，虽然不太情愿，但内心觉得应该帮助明宇。En: Jiayi notices this, and although she is somewhat reluctant, she feels inwardly that she should help Mingyu.Zh: 于是，悄悄地给明宇一些指引。En: So, quietly, she provides him with some guidance.Zh: 他们两人终于一起到达那座被遗忘的老仓库。En: Together, they finally reach the forgotten old warehouse.Zh: 在那里，他们找到了失踪的茶树。En: There, they find the missing tea tree.Zh: 原来，有人因为外来者的威胁，把茶树藏在了这里。En: It turns out that someone had hidden the tea tree there due to the threat of outsiders.Zh: 明宇和佳怡终于把茶树安全地转移到村里的温室中。En: Mingyu and Jiayi manage to safely relocate the tree to the village's greenhouse.Zh: 村民们聚集在一起，心里满是对他们两人的感激。En: The villagers gather around, filled with gratitude for the two of them.Zh: 在这个过程中，明宇对当地的风俗有了更多的理解与尊重。En: Through this process, Mingyu gains a deeper understanding and respect for the local customs.Zh: 而佳怡也明白了科学保存方法的价值，愿意更多地接受外界的帮助。En: Meanwhile, Jiayi realizes the value of scientific conservation methods and is more willing to accept outside help.Zh: 当新年的第一声鞭炮响起，全村都洋溢着团结与欣喜的气氛。En: When the first fireworks of the New Year sound, the whole village is filled with a spirit of unity and joy.Zh: 在云南的茶园，明宇和佳怡肩并肩，看着那被拯救的茶树，一样新的希望在心中萌芽。En: In the Yunnan tea garden, Mingyu and Jiayi stand side by side, looking at the rescued tea tree, as a new hope begins to sprout in their hearts. Vocabulary Words:diligent: 勤奋botanist: 植物学家intently: 专注地rare: 稀有的ancient: 古festival: 节precious: 珍贵mysteriously: 神秘disturbed: 打扰anxious: 着急gaze: 目光warehouse: 仓库reluctant: 不情愿guidance: 指引hidden: 藏threat: 威胁relocate: 转移gratitude: 感激conservation: 保存customs: 风俗hope: 希望fragrance: 芬芳strolling: 漫步spiritual energy: 灵气outsiders: 外来者hesitate: 犹豫intervene: 干预solve: 破解spirit: 精神unity: 团结

While the nation powers down for Spring Festival, some workers are powering up. They are skipping the family banquet to deliver yours, guard the temple fairs, and keep the city humming through the holiday lull. Meet the new wave of urban stayers choosing holiday shifts over hometown reunions and cashing in on the busiest downtime of the year. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Scenes of Chinese New Year shopping were once defined by crowded markets, ornate gift boxes, and last-minute grocery dashes. Now, the tableau is increasingly painted with livestream sales, overnight shipping, and delivery trucks lining residential streets. The annual Spring Festival consumer rush has steadily migrated online, testing China's vast logistics network at its most demanding moment. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

Lunar New Year isn't just a date on the calendar—it's an energetic turning point.Christie Jordan, intuitive healer, acupuncturist, teacher, and founder of Source Healing, joins us to explore the deeper meaning behind Lunar New Year and why this ancient tradition is still so relevant to our lives today.Christie breaks down what Lunar New Year truly represents through the lens of  the moon cycle and the natural rhythms of the Earth. We talk about why Lunar New Year is actually considered a Spring Festival, how it marks the moment when life begins stirring beneath the surface, and what that means for your own energy, intentions, and healing.With Fire Horse energy leading this lunar year, Christie explains how to work with this bold, activating force—without burning yourself out. This conversation is equal parts grounding and energizing, offering simple ways to integrate Eastern wisdom into your everyday life—no overwhelm, no perfection required.If you're craving a fresh start that feels real (not forced), this episode is for you.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODEWhat Lunar New Year actually represents—and why it follows the moon, not the calendarWhy Lunar New Year is known as a Spring Festival, even when it falls in winterHow ancient agrarian wisdom connects to hope, renewal, and new growthWhat Fire Horse energy means and how to work with it consciouslyHow qi (life force energy) begins moving long before we can “see” changeSimple rituals and reflections to align with the lunar cycleHow to integrate Eastern traditions into modern life in a grounded, authentic wayKEY TAKEAWAYLunar New Year reminds us that change begins beneath the surface. Even when it feels quiet—or frozen—something new is already forming. This is your invitation to trust the timing, honor the pause, and let your inner fire guide what comes next.MORE WITH CHRISTIE JORDANVisit sourcehealing https://www.sourcehealing.com/ to find out more about working with Christie Jordan.Follow @sourcehealingchicago Visit seekingcentercommunity.com for more with Robyn + Karen and many of the guides on Seeking Center: The Podcast. You'll get access to live weekly sessions, intuitive guidance, daily inspiration, and a space to share your journey with like-minded people who just get it. You can also follow Seeking Center on Instagram @theseekingcenter.