As the Spring Festival draws near, local residents in Beijing celebrate the Laba Festival on January 18, 2024. The Laba Festival falls on the eighth day of the 12th month on the Chinese calendar, heralding the start of the Lunar New Year. Residents enjoyed steaming hot Laba porridge as part of the tradition to celebrate the day, which is believed to bring good luck to people in the coming year. Photo: Chen Tao/GT