STORY: Budapest's Chinatown comes alive with colorful Spring Festival celebrations
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 18, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 21, 2025
LENGTH: 00:03:51
LOCATION: Budapest
CATEGORY: CULTURE/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (Hungarian): KATA SZABO, Visitor from Budapest in Hungary
2. SOUNDBITE 2 (Hungarian): HAJNALKA MESZAR, Visitor from Oroshaza in Hungary
3. SOUNDBITE 3 (Hungarian): BEATRIX GYORFI TOTH, Visitor from Dunavecse in Hungary
4. SOUNDBITE 4 (Hungarian): FANNI SZEGEDI, Graphic designer from Romania
5. various of the celebrations

STORYLINE:

Budapest's Chinatown was bursting with life over the past weekend despite the winter chill as vibrant colors, music and aroma of traditional Chinese delicacies filled the streets during the Spring Festival celebration.

The "Happy Chinese New Year" Temple Fair also brought together thousands of visitors, performers, artisans, and dignitaries to welcome the upcoming Chinese lunar new year, or the Year of the Snake, which falls on Jan. 29.

This is the first celebration since UNESCO inscribed "Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year" on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The fair featured dazzling performances, including lion and dragon dances, Peking Opera, the Monkey King's kung fu demonstration and folk dances that left audiences in awe. Three cultural delegations from China brought eight premiering programs to Hungary.

Visitors also had the rare opportunity to don 35 newly designed Hanfu outfits for free cosplay, blending cultural education with an element of fun.

From making wishes at the wishing tree to crafting and savoring dumplings, creating lanterns, designing kites, practicing Chinese calligraphy, and enjoying traditional tea ceremonies, visitors were fully immersed in Chinese culture and traditions.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Hungarian): KATA SZABO, Visitor from Budapest in Hungary
"We are interested in learning about the cultures of other nations. We want our daughter to experience and appreciate diverse cultures."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Hungarian): HAJNALKA MESZAR, Visitor from Oroshaza in Hungary
"I like this whole event very, very much. I have never been to an event like this. I saw the dances on the stage and they were stunning. I plan to explore the other activities in the building too."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Hungarian): BEATRIX GYORFI TOTH, Visitor from Dunavecse in Hungary
"I experienced everything from the calligraphy to the dragon dances."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Hungarian): FANNI SZEGEDI, Graphic designer from Romania
"I'm very much interested in Chinese culture as you can see from my dress.
My favorite stage performance was a castle scene where people in dresses from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) danced and someone played Erhu.
I like Hanfu very much, and I'm happy for the opportunity to show it to others, too, rather than only wearing it at home. I think it's a very nice dress and tradition, and I hope more people get a chance to know it better."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Budapest.
(XHTV)