Festival takes on a global glow

Spring Festival's traditional focus on family seemed to take on a more global significance this year as China's ever-increasing importance in the Olympic family was celebrated at home and abroad.

With the 2022 Winter Games fast approaching, Chinese participation in ice and snow sports stood out as highlight of the Lunar New Year holiday as the country accelerates preparations for the gala event in Beijing and co-host Zhangjiakou in Hebei province.

Despite much colder conditions than in recent winters, Zhangjiakou's Chongli district, where most of the snow sports will be staged in 2022, welcomed a record 174,946 visitors from Feb 4-10, up nine percent from last year.