A foreigner films the lion dance performance at a temple fair in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

The Bingwu Year (Year of the Horse) began with joyous and peaceful Spring Festival holidays. The festive atmosphere of this Spring Festival goes beyond the crowds returning home; there are also the agile domestically produced robots on the Spring Festival Gala stage, the outstanding box office performance exceeding 5.6 billion yuan ($810 million) by Monday, and a market consumption boom driven by policies such as the "trade-in" policy. Foreign media marveled that the "Spring Festival in China" is the "new global trend." The nine-day Spring Festival holidays continued the vibrant lifestyle of an ancient nation, allowing the world to truly feel the vitality that China exuded at the beginning of the Year of the Horse.

As the world's largest annual "migration," the Spring Festival travel rush data isn't yet complete, but the cross-regional movement of people in the first 20 days has already reached a record high. In northern regions like Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia, adverse weather conditions such as snowfall did not hinder the smooth operation of main roads, while in the Qiongzhou Strait in the south, the "reservation-based crossing" and time-slot ticketing mechanisms ensured orderly vehicle crossings. The Spring Festival travel rush has powerfully demonstrated China's massive and efficient scheduling capabilities, showcasing the obvious achievements of refined social governance. From mobile charging facilities added to highways and airlines' "instant boarding" smart services to the pet transport reservation function on the 12306 platform, the fruitful results of modernization are being integrated into the details of people's lives in all aspects, resonating with the happiness and sense of gains of the people.

This Spring Festival, the consumer market has been bustling, with catering, tourism, shopping, and moviegoing all booming. Meituan data shows that reservations for Chinese New Year's Eve dinners nationwide increased by 105 percent year-on-year; Dianping data indicates that in the first four days of the Spring Festival holidays, the overall traffic to the "Must-Eat List" increased by nearly 40 percent compared to the same period last year. A consumer extravaganza driven by new quality productive forces unfolded simultaneously: sales of "tech-savvy New Year's goods" skyrocketed, "electronic New Year's goods" became the new favorites of the cyber-themed New Year, and the Year of the Horse Spring Festival Gala, filled with AI elements, seamlessly integrated virtual images with a real-world stage. Consumption is no longer merely about material satisfaction; it has become a projection of "emotional investment" and personalized lifestyle experiences. When anime and manga enthusiasts are collecting anime-themed products, colloquially known as guzi (a homophone of the English word "goods"), Qunar.com data shows that the number of first-time airfare purchases by people over 60 years old increased by 20 percent year-on-year, and "reverse New Year celebrations" have become a regular occurrence. This consumption boom, which covers all age groups, demonstrates the resilience and strength of China's economic growth.

When the snowflakes of Milan met the red lanterns of the Year of the Horse on the Apennine Peninsula, the Chinese New Year gained an added layer of connection and glory that transcended time zones. During this Spring Festival, countless families gathered around their televisions, cheering for Su Yiming's gold medal win on his birthday and rejoicing in Ning Zhongyan's stunning achievement of breaking the century-old monopoly of Europe and America. Every time the national flag was raised on the Winter Olympic field, it resonated across the country thousands of miles away. This glory was by no means accidental; the accumulated strength of "engaging 300 million people in winter sports" is a new bright spot added to the picture of a prosperous and peaceful era.

The festive atmosphere of over 1.4 billion Chinese people celebrating the Spring Festival transcends borders and influences the whole world. This year, double-decker sightseeing buses featuring a Year of the Horse theme are shuttling through the streets of Paris, horse-shaped hot air balloons are soaring over Cappadocia in Turkey, and a Spring Festival-themed train in red and gold has arrived at the Moscow Metro. London's Heathrow Airport is not only adorned with Spring Festival couplets and paper cuttings but also extends New Year blessings to travelers flying to China. On global social media platforms, netizens from various countries dressed in traditional Chinese attire and wearing red ornaments elevate the sense of ceremony around "experiencing the flavor of a Chinese New Year." 

Many foreign tourists have flocked to China to take advantage of visa-free policies and immerse themselves in authentic Chinese New Year customs. China's high level of opening-up allows traditional Chinese culture to radiate new vitality on the world stage.

In today's world, uncertainty still looms, and the shadows of conflict have not yet dissipated. This makes the peace and liveliness of the Chinese New Year especially precious. This sends a clear message to the world: The Chinese society is vibrant, the Chinese people are passionate about life, and China's development is fueled by strong internal momentum. As countless lights illuminate the joy of reunion, and as the waves of the Spring Festival travel pulse with development, this is not just a celebration of a holiday; it represents the precious certainty that China, through its own stability and prosperity, injects into a turbulent world.

Today, the call for returning to work and school has sounded, and people carry the warmth and strength of the holiday as they embark on a new journey. The Year of the Horse coincides with the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. This Spring Festival, we witness a dynamic China, an innovative China, a confident China, and a friendly and inclusive China deeply integrated with the world. The festive and joyful Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse not only consolidates our firm confidence in high-quality development but also conveys a sincere willingness to share development opportunities with the world, as well as the infinite vitality of this ancient civilization as it moves toward the future and gallops forward.