标签： Asia

China witnessed substantial cross-border mobility during the recent Spring Festival holiday, with official data revealing 17.8 million entries and exits recorded at the country’s border checkpoints. The daily average reached approximately 1.98 million movements, reflecting significant recovery in international travel following pandemic restrictions.

The heightened traffic coincided with extensive celebrations across China, including Macao’s spectacular drone and fireworks display that attracted both domestic and international visitors. Multiple regions reported increased tourism activity, with destinations like Shanxi’s Zhaoyu Ancient City experiencing notable visitor surges during the holiday period.

Transportation infrastructure, particularly the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, handled record traffic volumes as mainland-SARs tourism rebounded strongly. The increased mobility demonstrates China’s ongoing normalization of cross-border travel and cultural exchange following extended COVID-19 related restrictions.

The data coincides with China’s comprehensive efforts to revitalize tourism and cultural activities, with sci-tech museums alone drawing over 3.5 million visits during the same period. Authorities implemented enhanced border management protocols to ensure smooth processing of the increased passenger flow while maintaining security standards.

As China welcomed the Year of the Horse in February 2026, the nation erupted in vibrant celebrations marking the Lunar New Year. The festivities showcased a rich tapestry of cultural traditions and modern innovations across the country.

In Macao, a spectacular drone and fireworks display illuminated the night sky, creating a mesmerizing technological spectacle that drew thousands of spectators. Meanwhile, in Shanxi province, tourists flocked to the historic Zhaoyu Ancient City to experience traditional Spring Festival celebrations amidst well-preserved architectural heritage.

The unique horse culture of Inner Mongolia took center stage at a winter photography festival, where the region’s equestrian traditions were displayed against breathtaking snowy landscapes. This celebration held particular significance during the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizing strength, speed, and perseverance.

Cultural institutions reported record engagement, with China’s science and technology museums attracting over 3.5 million visits during the holiday period. The surge in domestic tourism also set new records, particularly in cross-border travel between mainland China and special administrative regions, leading to unprecedented traffic on major transportation corridors.

The celebrations extended beyond China’s borders, with Chinese tourists spreading festive vibes internationally while maintaining deep connections to their cultural roots. The panda, China’s national treasure, continued to capture public imagination as these beloved animals became integrated into daily life narratives during the holiday season.

Despite the celebrations, authorities remained vigilant about public safety, issuing warnings about forest fire risks in Guangdong province following several incidents. The mixed pattern of traditional observance and modern adaptation characterized China’s approach to one of its most important cultural festivals, demonstrating both the preservation of heritage and embrace of innovation.

China’s network of science and technology museums experienced unprecedented popularity during the recent Spring Festival holiday, recording a remarkable 3.5 million visits across the nine-day celebration period. The China Science and Technology Museum (CSTM) in Beijing reported these figures on Monday, highlighting how these institutions successfully merged educational content with cultural festivities to create engaging experiences for visitors of all ages.

The flagship Beijing facility alone attracted over 200,000 visitors with its special Year of the Horse themed exhibitions. Nationwide, regional science museums developed customized programming that blended traditional Chinese zodiac symbolism, intangible cultural heritage elements, and interactive technology demonstrations. These carefully crafted experiences allowed families to explore scientific concepts while simultaneously participating in Lunar New Year traditions.

According to CSTM officials, the institution will continue to pioneer innovative approaches to science communication throughout 2026. This strategic direction aims to enhance public engagement with scientific concepts and support China’s broader objectives of achieving greater self-reliance in science and technology through improved science literacy among the population. The successful holiday programming demonstrates how cultural institutions can effectively combine entertainment with education to stimulate public interest in scientific fields.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge, has experienced unprecedented traffic volumes during the recent Spring Festival period, recording three consecutive days of record-breaking vehicle movements. On February 24-26, 2026, the infrastructure marvel witnessed daily traffic figures reaching 27,000, 27,100, and ultimately peaking at 29,500 trips respectively.

This remarkable surge stems from a significant increase in bidirectional tourism between mainland China and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao. Official data from Guangdong’s transportation authorities reveals that during the first seven days of the nine-day holiday period, the bridge accommodated over 161,000 vehicle crossings, representing a substantial 20% increase compared to the previous year.

The increased traffic patterns reflect the successful implementation of cross-boundary vehicle programs initiated in 2023 and late 2025. These policies permit single-license vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao to access Guangdong province, while conversely enabling mainland vehicles to enter Hong Kong’s urban areas. During the festival, northbound vehicles from Hong Kong constituted more than half of total bridge traffic, with Saturday alone seeing over 15,300 such trips.

For many families, this marked the first extended holiday period since the implementation of the latest travel facilitation measures. Guangzhou resident Mr. Wang, who secured his travel quota two weeks in advance, noted the enhanced flexibility for family travel that personal vehicle transportation provides.

The bridge has simultaneously served as a major tourist attraction in its own right, with immigration authorities reporting approximately 10,000 participants in dedicated bridge tours during the holiday period. Meanwhile, the infrastructure has facilitated over 372,000 trips by residents from Hong Kong and Macao visiting family and enjoying short excursions in Guangdong.

Transportation expert Gary Zhang Xinyu, former chairman of the Hong Kong Legislative Council’s rail transport subcommittee, described the traffic increase as “remarkably significant, even somewhat unexpected.” He emphasized that the phenomenon demonstrates both the substantial potential for cross-boundary travel and the powerful impact of policy measures on stimulating tourism demand and transforming travel patterns within the Greater Bay Area.

Authorities in Guangdong province have escalated fire safety measures following a concerning increase in forest fires triggered by illegal fireworks usage. The provincial emergency management department reported multiple wildfire outbreaks across Wuhua county in Meizhou on February 16, all originating from villagers discharging fireworks near forested zones. Although these particular incidents were contained without casualties, they revealed systemic vulnerabilities in current prevention frameworks.

The provincial forest fire prevention headquarters convened an emergency video conference on Saturday, mandating comprehensive reforms to break the cycle of recurrent outbreaks. Officials have been directed to strengthen accountability mechanisms and address underlying weaknesses in fire management systems. The new strategy emphasizes intensified source control through systematic risk inspections and specialized operations targeting unlawful fire use.

Simultaneously, the initiative expands public education campaigns across multiple channels to disseminate fire prevention legislation and safety knowledge. Local governments are enhancing emergency preparedness through refined contingency planning, regular drills, and developing integrated monitoring systems combining aerial, spatial, and ground surveillance technologies. Supervision protocols will feature immediate rectification orders with follow-up inspections to ensure implementation efficacy.

This regulatory tightening follows tragic fireworks accidents in Jiangsu and Hubei provinces during the Spring Festival period, claiming 20 lives total. The State Council Work Safety Committee consequently issued national directives strengthening oversight throughout fireworks supply chains, particularly regarding sales and discharge activities. Multiple provinces including Liaoning have implemented stringent new regulations prohibiting hazardous practices near retail locations and establishing strict customer capacity limits.

Several regions have introduced public reward programs encouraging citizen participation in identifying illegal activities. Zhangzhou city and Xiapu county in Fujian province are offering financial incentives for reporting violations, while Inner Mongolia has established reward tiers ranging from 3,000 to 300,000 yuan for tips leading to penalties.