Shotlist Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, south China - Jan 1, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Various of passengers walking with luggage 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Tourist (name not given): "I'm so happy as this is the first day of 2026, and I'm bringing my friends to visit Shenzhen." 3. Passengers passing gate 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tourist (name not given): "It's a very modern city and it's interesting to see such a New Year Eve in such a city." Hong Kong, China - Jan 1, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 5. Decorations themed around New Year, Spring Festival 6. Various of passengers walking with luggage, waiting in line, passing gate 7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Tourist (name not given): "I am from Melbourne, Australia and I'm coming to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in China. I'm excited to see all the tall buildings, especially all the ones that light up and experience a new culture in China." 8. People taking, posing for photos Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, south China - Jan 1, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 9. Various of parade, performance in progress 10. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Tourist (name not given): "The atmosphere is really nice. We feel very welcomed here. It's a very, very international vibe." 11. Parade in progress China - Jan 1, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 12. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Shi Ke, researcher, big data research institute of Qunar (starting with shot 11): "On the first day of holiday, international flight ticket purchases to Shenzhen has increased by 52.5 percent while the international flight bookings to the city has grown by 33 percent." 13. Passengers passing gate 14. Various of passengers waiting in line at border inspection, officers working 15. Various of passengers; staff helping passenger Storyline Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province saw a soaring number of visitors from abroad on Thursday, the first day of 2026 and also the opening day of China's three-day New Year holiday, as festive celebrations unfolded across the city. Major border checkpoints in the city recorded peak inbound passenger flows, with large numbers of travelers from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas entering the city to experience its vibrant holiday vibes. "I'm so happy 'cause this is the first day of 2026, and I'm bringing my friends to visit Shenzhen," said a visitor from Hong Kong. International tourists also shared their excitement. "It's a very modern city and it's interesting to see such a New Year Eve in such a city," said an overseas visitor. The inbound passenger flow at Luohu Port peaked from 8:00 to 20:00 on Thursday, said an officer there, adding the average daily passenger flow during the New Year break is expected to reach about 240,000. At the West Kowloon Station port, eye-catching red decorations themed around the upcoming 2026 Spring Festival which will mark the beginning of the Year of the Horse added to the festive mood. As a key transportation hub of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the port also saw heavy two-way passenger traffic. Daily cross-border passenger flow there is expected to average around 100,000 during the holiday. An Australian tourist said he was looking forward to his trip to south China. "I am from Melbourne, Australia and I'm coming to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in China. I'm excited to see all the tall buildings, especially all the ones that light up and experience a new culture in China." said a tourist. Outside the ports, celebrations were in full swing as the city prepared for rising visitor numbers. A large-scale parade featuring more than 30 themed formations kicked off in the morning along the 1.6-kilometer Festival Avenue in Shenzhen's Futian District. The event drew huge crowds with inflatable cartoon characters, lively drum performances, and traditional Yingge Dance -- a form of folk dance popular in south China's Guangdong Province that merges opera, dance, and martial arts. Nearby commercial zones also rolled out special consumption coupons, allowing visitors to enjoy a one-stop experience combining festive celebrations and shopping. "The atmosphere is really nice. We feel very welcomed here. It's a very, very international vibe", said an international visitor. China continues to grow in popularity as a destination for overseas travelers. Data from online tourism platforms show that inbound flight bookings to China rose 20 percent year on year on the first day of the holiday, with Shenzhen ranking fifth among the country's most popular inbound travel destinations. "On the first day of holiday, international flight ticket purchases to Shenzhen has increased by 52.5 percent while the international flight bookings to the city has grown by 33 percent," said Shi Ke, a researcher from big data research institute of Qunar, an online travel service provider.