Langzhong Ancient City in Nanchong, China, is inviting visitors worldwide to experience its authentic Spring Festival celebrations. Announced at a briefing by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the festivities will run from 26 January to 4 March, offering a rich cultural experience in the city known as the “Ancient City of the World.”

Visitors can immerse themselves in a variety of traditional activities, including the Langzhong Stone Rubbing Exhibition, which displays stone inscriptions dating back 1,500 years. The Old Man of the Spring Festival, a figure rooted in local folklore, will parade through the streets, offering blessings and traditional New Year greetings.

The festival also features an interactive intangible cultural heritage market with over 40 recognized items. Attendees can engage in crafting shadow puppets, cutting festive paper decorations, and watching performances of the Ba Commandery Nuo Opera, a unique blend of ancient rituals and folk opera.

The New Year Grand Temple Fair will provide a platform for cultural performances, themed exhibitions, and modern attractions. Highlights include the large-scale cultural stage play “Legend of Langyuan,” water tours, and low-altitude flights, ensuring entertainment for all ages.

Langzhong’s historical significance as the birthplace of the Spring Festival is attributed to Luo Xiahong, an astronomer of the Western Han Dynasty. His creation of the Taichu Calendar, which incorporated the 24 solar terms and established the first day of the lunar month as the start of the year, has left a lasting impact on Chinese culture. Today, Langzhong Ancient City warmly welcomes visitors to partake in its rich traditions and hospitality.