CGTN: 2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala Blends Tradition With Innovation In Final Stage

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- The 2025 China Media Group (CMG) Spring Festival Gala, a cornerstone of Chinese New Year celebrations, has entered its final rehearsal phase.

Known for its rich cultural significance, this annual event, or Chunwan in China, combines innovation with tradition, captivating audiences in both China and the world, according to a statement.

With cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology, the show promises an immersive experience, blending classic acts with interactive elements to engage audiences and attract a broader audience, particularly younger generations.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, the gala has also unveiled its official mascot, "Si Sheng Sheng”, a vibrant green snake symbolising the Year of the Snake.

Inspired by traditional Chinese culture, the design incorporates intricate details like the spiral patterns from a gilded silver "Ruyi" discovered in northwest China's Shaanxi's Famen Temple, representing prosperity.

Since its inception in 1983, the Spring Festival Gala has become a cultural hallmark of Chinese New Year, celebrating the nation's heritage through performances such as operas, folk songs, dances, skits, and crosstalk.

While maintaining the traditions, this year’s gala will embrace modern creative expressions with its stage design, which draws inspiration from the "Ruyi" sceptre, a traditional Chinese artefact symbolising fulfilled wishes.

In recent years, the Spring Festival Gala has embraced technological advancements to rejuvenate traditional art forms, with the integration of technology and culture not only breathing new life into traditional art but also deepening the audience's connection with China's cultural heritage.

In addition to celebrating familial bonds, the gala reflects societal changes and issues through its humorous skits and crosstalk, sparking both laughter and reflection, in which the 2025 Gala will continue this tradition, offering insight into contemporary social themes while embodying the spirit of the times.

This year's event promises to be both a vibrant celebration of the past and an exciting glimpse into the future, reinforcing the gala's role as a bridge between tradition and modernity and as a heartfelt connection among Chinese people worldwide.

-- BERNAMA