China rings in the new year the Year of Rabbit with most COVID rules lifted
China rings in the new year the Year of Rabbit with most COVID rules lifted!
For the past three years, Lunar New Year celebrations have been marred under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People across China celebrated the start of the new Lunar New Year with large family gatherings and visits to temples after the government lifted its strict “zero-COVID” policy.
As communities across Asia welcomed the Year of the Rabbit, Sunday in China saw the biggest celebration since the coronavirus pandemic started three years ago.
As reported, nearly 53,000 people offered prayers at Beijing’s Lama Temple however, the crowds appeared to be smaller compared to pre-pandemic days. The Tibetan Buddhist site allows up to 60,000 visitors a day, citing safety reasons, and requires an advance reservation.
The Lunar New Year is the most important annual event worldwide in regions and countries that house significant Overseas Chinese or Sinophone populations.
Lunar New Year commonly known as the Spring Festival in China, is a fifteen-day celebration marked by many traditions.
Each year is named after one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac in a repeating cycle, with this year being the Year of the Rabbit.
Many took to social media to extend new wishes including celebrities.
Tonight is Chinese New Year's Eve, and tomorrow is the Spring Festival. The Chinese people are celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year.
The streets and alleys are bustling everywhere! Lamps and candles of a myriad families! Prosperity!💞🇨🇳🎉 pic.twitter.com/whVGOsQMIq
— 俞歆程 Xincheng Yu🇨🇳☭ (@YuXincheng_kin) January 21, 2023
Xin Nian Kuai Le! 恭喜發財! Happy Chinese New Year!! May the year of the rabbit bring good luck, good health, and lots of new opportunities to all my friends and fans around the world!
I’m giving away lucky “Hong Bao” (red packets) again! (https://t.co/Qg5xevqpZl) pic.twitter.com/EJyTUaVlLn— Jackie Chan (@EyeOfJackieChan) January 22, 2023
Happy Chinese New Year!!! pic.twitter.com/jYQ121gKo2
— Lay Zhang (@layzhang) January 21, 2023
The Chinese New Year is coming soon.🥰🥰🥰#ChineseNewYear #HappyChineseNewYear
#chinesetraitional #chineseculture pic.twitter.com/5K8IEl3MNx— Chinese traditional culture lovers (@prc9999) January 8, 2023
As the Spring Festival approaches, strong festive atmosphere can be felt in every home. Happy Chinese New Year, Better Life! Join us to find and share every joy of the coming new year!#CNY2023 pic.twitter.com/Ov1IlZ0aDX
— Sinopec (@SinopecNews) January 19, 2023
Happy #ChineseNewYear 🧧! It's my first #LunarNewYear as a State Rep! This is a time for family, food, and wishing everyone a prosperous and happy Year of the Rabbit 🐇.
Looking back, this past week was busy… pic.twitter.com/QZncbKk7wt
— Ben Ming (伍文斌) (@BenMingNH) January 22, 2023
Spring Festival, Guangzhou, China.😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/SI2AnmRiuV
— Sharing travel (@TripInChina) January 22, 2023