STORY: Russian expat experiences Spring Festival customs in China's Shanxi
SHOOTING TIME: recent footage
DATELINE: Jan. 24, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:37
LOCATION: TAIYUAN, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the molten iron fireworks show
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHOU XIAOMING, Situ Township, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province
3. various of Russian expat Aleshinskaia Evelina learning the making of red lantern
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): GUAN XUETING, Staff member at a lantern factory in Yangzhao Village
5. various of employees making Hua mo
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HE TIEFANG, Hua mo artist

STORYLINE:

UNESCO has recently inscribed the Chinese Spring Festival on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Follow a Russian expat to experience the Chinese New Year customs in China's Shanxi Province.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHOU XIAOMING, Situ Township, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province
"Fireworks are made with gunpowder, but what are molten iron fireworks? Scrap iron is melted to 1,600 degrees Celsius. The molten iron fireworks artist throws it against a cold wall to create a firework effect. So fireworks and molten iron fireworks are different."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): GUAN XUETING, Staff member at a lantern factory in Yangzhao Village
"In China, during the Spring Festival, we'd like to hang lanterns high under the eaves. The round shape of the lantern symbolizes reunion, and its red color represents joy and celebration. In ancient times, lanterns hung during the Spring Festival symbolized driving away evil spirits and welcoming brightness."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HE TIEFANG, Hua mo artist
"Our flower-shaped steamed buns are a form of Chinese folk art with a history of over 1,700 years, as recorded in texts. Such buns are used for all kinds of festive events, big or small, to convey blessings and good wishes. As the Chinese New Year draws near, we also exchange flower-shaped steamed buns when visiting friends to express New Year's greetings."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Taiyuan, China.
(XHTV)