On February 10, with the theme “Our New Year, The World's New Year — Celebrate Chinese New Year in Mianzhu”, the 25th Mianzhu New Year Painting Festival of 2026 officially opened at Mianzhu Sports Center.

Event Scene [Photo by Shen Xuming]

The most festive activity of the Mianzhu New Year Painting Festival is undoubtedly the “Spring Tour in Paintings: Seeking the New Year in Mianzhu” parade. Comprising 32 formations and over 1,400 performers, the procession brought the Greeting Spring painting by Qing Dynasty artist Huang Ruihu to life from its scroll. The humor of “The Mouse Marries Off His Daughter,”  the grace of “Cycling Ladies,” the adorable charm of “Childlike Dragons and Lions,” the youthful “Bamboo Treasures of the Wine Country,” the energetic “Galloping Children,” the sci-fi “New Year Painting Mecha,” and the festive “Whipping Spring for Blessings.” Combined with vibrant performances showcasing Xizang, Qiang, and Yi cultures. These elements allowed this folk scroll, which freezes over 460 vivid characters and complete spring-welcoming rituals in time, to be creatively revitalized on contemporary streets, vividly performing the complete real-life sequence of “Welcoming Spring, Touring Spring, Reporting Spring, and Whipping Spring.”

Event Scene [Photo by Shen Xuming]

Across squares and parks, the air resonates with melodious opera tunes and the fragrance of New Year paintings. Vibrant cultural activities—Sichuan opera performances, Tai Chi shows, New Year painting rubbing workshops, and calligraphy sessions for spring couplets—thrive in full swing. In distinctive districts like Jiannan Old Street, Anguoli, and Qiankun Water Street, intangible cultural heritage markets, food stalls, and roaming performances complemented each other. Visitors admired New Year paintings, savored festive flavors, and immersed themselves in Mianzhu’s unique historical culture and vibrant, everyday atmosphere.

Event Scene [Photo by Shen Xuming]

As the core cultural highlight of this year's festival, the themed exhibition “Welcoming Spring: Customs and Modern Echoes in Mianzhu New Year Paintings” ran from February 4 to March 20 at the Chinese Traditional Culture Museum in Beijing. Centered on the theme “Celebrating Spring with Intangible Heritage: Savoring the Chinese New Year,” the exhibition showcases over 150 exquisite Mianzhu New Year paintings. It is complemented by a “Goods Market” featuring more than 100 types of intangible cultural heritage products. Through diverse formats including viewing, hands-on experiences, and interactive activities, the exhibition allows audiences in the capital and guests from all over the world to appreciate this unique charm up close, achieving a brand leap from “local intangible heritage” to “national showcase.”(by Zhang Zhehui)