Chang’an Avenue Illuminated in Splendor to Welcome the Spring Festival
Beijing, The Gulf Observer: In celebration of the upcoming Spring Festival, Chang’an Avenue, Beijing’s iconic thoroughfare, has undergone a stunning transformation, adorned with 242 vibrant red lanterns and 862 intricate Chinese knots. These ornate decorations contribute to the festive ambiance as the Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, approaches on February 10 this year.
Each of the sizable red lanterns gracing Chang’an Avenue boasts dimensions of 1.2 meters in diameter, 1.28 meters in height, and weighs over 10 kg. The Chinese knots, even more substantial, weigh more than 15 kg, requiring a team of four individuals for installation, as shared by a staff member from the city’s lighting management center of State Grid Beijing Electric Power Company.
Embracing the principles of frugality and environmental responsibility, this year’s decorations incorporate the reuse of red lanterns, Chinese knots, and string lights previously employed for the Spring Festival celebrations. The commitment to sustainability aligns with the city’s dedication to responsible practices in urban beautification.
For the seamless execution of urban lighting during the Spring Festival, the lighting management center has deployed 144 personnel and 32 support vehicles, strategically focusing on areas hosting folk cultural activities like temple fairs, lantern fairs, and major transportation hubs.
According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Management, nearly 1,000 main streets and over 3,000 alleys have been adorned with captivating landscape layouts, ushering in the festive spirit. Emphasizing the significance of the Year of the Dragon, Qu Lijian, Director of the Landscape Division, stated, “This year is the Year of the Dragon. Dragon is a prominent symbol of Chinese traditional culture. When designing these layouts, we made full use of Chinese cultural elements such as dragon culture and dragon totem.”
The city’s festive ensemble extends beyond Chang’an Avenue, encompassing over 250,000 lanterns and a multitude of decorations. A total of 220 large-scale landscape layouts have been meticulously arranged, with 74 overpasses adorned with outdoor electronic display screens streaming greetings and video messages, enveloping Beijing in a warm and vibrant atmosphere.
“In terms of color, we specially chose Chinese red as the main color and used warm colors such as red, yellow, and gold to create a festive atmosphere, so that locals and tourists can feel the warmth of the city,” added Qu Lijian, underscoring the meticulous attention to cultural elements and aesthetics in the festive embellishments throughout the capital city.
