Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - January 10, 2025 A celebration of the upcoming Spring Festival, the most important Chinese traditional holiday, started on Friday in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh. Captivating lion dance performances, coupled with rich displays of Chinese Lunar New Year customs, intangible cultural heritage and engaging traditional games were showcased at the two-day event, which was held by the Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia, presenting the allure of the Spring Festival to both local residents and international visitors. "Congratulations to the People's Republic of China and Chinese people around the world for that the Chinese New Year has been listed as the intangible world heritage of UNESCO. Me and my wife, we are very impressed by the important scale of the presentation of Chinese culture," said Darm Boontham, Ambassador of Thailand to Saudi Arabia. "I think it's fun. I had stayed in China for 14 years. Since I came back here, I have fewer Chinese friends. So, I'm really happy to have this event. It's a very important festival for Chinese people. I'm also very happy to come and join them," said a visitor from Yemen. According to residents, popular Chinese video games and authentic Chinese cuisine displayed at the event provided them with an up-close, multi-dimensional experience of Chinese culture, fostering greater mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and Saudi Arabia. "Today, I brought my Saudi friends to this event. Let them have a look at Chinese culture, because in my heart, China is full of endless charm," said a Saudi Chinese learner. The Spring Festival, which falls on Jan 29 this year, will usher in the Year of the Snake. The video shows; 1. Various of performance in progress 2. Various of paper-cutting booth 3. People at celebration event 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Darm Boontham, Ambassador of Thailand to Saudi Arabia (partially overlaid with shots 5-6): "Congratulations to the People's Republic of China and Chinese people around the world for that the Chinese New Year has been listed as the intangible world heritage of UNESCO. Me and my wife, we are very impressed by the important scale of the presentation of Chinese culture." ++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 5. Visitors playing pitch-pot 6. Visitors posing for photos ++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 7. Visitors at exhibition booth of "Honer of Kings" video game 8. Visitors at exhibition booth of "Black Myth: Wukong" video game 9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) visitor from Yemen (name not given): "I think it's fun. I had stayed in China for 14 years. Since I came back here, I have fewer Chinese friends. So, I'm really happy to have this event. It's a very important festival for Chinese people. I'm also very happy to come and join them." 10. Various of Chinese cuisines 11. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Saudi Chinese learner (name not given) (ending with shot 12): "Today, I brought my Saudi friends to this event. Let them have a look at Chinese culture, because in my heart, China is full of endless charm." 12. Various of festive decorations [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]