Beijing, January 1, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Chinese people embraced the New Year with vibrant celebrations and a renewed sense of hope for a flourishing economy and improved livelihoods in 2025. From breathtaking sunrises in the icy northeast to high-tech drone shows in the south, the festivities showcased the nation’s cultural diversity and economic potential.
In Fuyuan, Heilongjiang Province, thousands of visitors gathered to witness the first sunrise of the year, braving freezing temperatures at the city’s highest lookout point. “I’ve been longing to see the sunrise in Fuyuan for a long time, and this year my dream finally came true,” said Ni Zijun, a postgraduate student at Peking University.
The city also hosted an ice marathon along the frozen Heilong River, drawing around 2,000 runners despite temperatures plunging to minus 30 degrees Celsius. The event highlighted the growing ice and snow economy, which recorded over 385 million winter leisure visits in 2023, a 38% increase from the previous year, with revenues surging by 50%.
Economic Optimism and Policy Support
The Central Economic Work Conference in December set a positive tone for 2025, pledging to stimulate growth in sectors like the ice and snow economy. New policies, including an extension of visa-free transit stays to 240 hours, aim to attract more international tourists. The National Immigration Administration predicts a daily average of 2.05 million inbound and outbound passengers during the New Year holiday, an 18.8% rise from last year.
Saede Liis Nelke, an Estonian student at Guangxi Normal University, expressed excitement about the policy changes, saying she plans to bring her family and friends to explore China’s rich culture in 2025.
Other measures to boost consumption include extending holidays for the Chinese New Year and Labor Day, giving citizens more opportunities to travel and shop. Trade-in programs for home appliances, electric vehicles, and other goods have also driven significant economic activity, generating over 1 trillion yuan (approximately $139 billion USD) in revenue by the end of 2024.
Technological Innovations
In Nanning, Guangxi, residents celebrated New Year’s Eve with a spectacular drone show, a greener alternative to traditional fireworks. The low-altitude economy, fueled by advancements in drone technology, is expected to expand from 500 billion yuan in 2023 to 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025 and 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Wang Weishi, chairman of a Nanning-based drone service provider, reported a 30% increase in business in 2024 and plans to expand operations into Cambodia and Myanmar this year.
As the nation steps into 2025, these celebrations and initiatives underscore China’s optimism and determination to achieve greater economic and cultural milestones.
