Carnivals kick off in Shenyang to welcome Chinese New Year

Two carnivals kicked off in Shenhe district of Shenyang, capital of northeastern Liaoning province on Jan 20, to welcome the upcoming Spring Festival which falls on Jan 25.

Hosted by the Shenyang publicity department, Shenyang civilization office and the Shenyang Daily, the organizers said the activities aim to promote traditional Chinese customs and culture.

Participants include parents and children, student volunteers and community residents in the district. They made firecrackers, dumplings, paper-cuttings for window decorations, as well as mice from clay -- as 2020 is the Year of the Rat according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

Calligraphers at the activities also wrote Spring Festival couplets for participants.

Organizers said that the carnivals are among a series of cultural activities that will be held in Shenyang throughout 2020.

The focus will be on promoting the culture of traditional Chinese festivals, including the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Double Seventh Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Double Ninth Festival.