Henan TV Spring Festival gala celebrates Year of the Snake with cultural spectacle

Popular influencer Li Ziqi is featured at the 2025 Henan TV Spring Festival gala. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]To embrace the Year of the Snake, Henan TV will stage the Spring Festival galaSnakes Return, Fortunes Turntonight, offering audiences a dazzling celebration of Chinese culture and the Spring Festival. The gala highlights "family culture" and showcases intangible cultural heritage through captivating performances.

Yang Liping's team will perform the danceSnakes Return, Fortunes Turn, inspired by an ancient silk painting of Fuxi and Nüwa discovered in the Astana tombs in Turpan, Xinjiang. The piece draws on the imagery of Fuxi and Nüwa— human-headed, snake-bodied figures intertwined—symbolizing "family culture" and unity.

Through her signature hieroglyphic dance language, Yang Liping brings the blessings of Fuxi and Nüwa to life, depicting their roles as nurturers of life and harbingers of prosperity. The performance is a stunning visual spectacle, celebrating vitality, renewal, and the enduring spirit of Chinese cultural heritage.

A scene from the 2025 Henan TV Spring Festival gala.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]This marks the first Spring Festival since the event was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The gala expertly weaves intangible heritage into an unforgettable cultural experience.

Popular influencer Li Ziqi will appear, juxtaposing her serene aesthetic with the lively atmosphere of a temple fair to craft a narrative connecting past, present, and future cultural traditions.

Actress Wan Qian will portray the 12 Chinese zodiac deities through rapid costume changes, intricate makeup, and floral symbolism, incorporating traditional art forms such as porcelain flowers and silk-wrapped blossoms to explore the poetic significance of flowers in Chinese history.

A dance show is featured at the 2025 Henan TV Spring Festival gala.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]Inspired by the dance dramaCenturies in Fan's Folds, another performance celebrates Chinese fan-making artistry, blending it seamlessly with Jiangnan-style dance. By integrating intangible cultural heritage, the production emphasizes the global significance of the Spring Festival and fosters intercultural exchange.

Chen Lijun returns with her operatic performance,Fleeting Dream of Life. The act tells the story of Xiaojun, a young girl learning Yue Opera during the Republic of China era, as traditional opera evolves over nearly a century. Chen's portrayal pays homage to Yue Opera masters while reflecting on her own artistic journey.

Comedian Yue Yunpeng is featured at the 2025 Henan TV Spring Festival gala.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]This year, versatile singer Zhou Shen embraces the rock genre, performing in a wheat field with diverse bands. Combining traditional instruments like thesanxian(three-stringed traditional Chinese lute) andzhuizi(two-stringed bowed string instrument) with modern rock, his crystalline vocals and dynamic choreography create a stunning sensory experience.

A highlight of the gala is the debut of China's first mythology-inspired virtual band, China Chic - Celestial Echoes. Additionally, the gala features innovative storytelling, with the Henan dialect taking center stage. Through short comedic films starring comedian Yue Yunpeng, the gala captures heartfelt, relatable moments, bringing a cohesive and joyous celebration to audiences.

Watch Live at 7:30 pm, Jan 26 (GMT+8):

China Culture YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/live/mzGVTDlD_64?si=u3CG-FxTSSrIxx7p

China Culture Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1710015769941126

Singer Zhou Shen is featured at the 2025 Henan TV Spring Festival gala.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A poster for the 2025 Henan TV Spring Festival gala.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]