Henan television's Spring Festival gala blends tech and tradition

It's a tradition in China for people to gather with their families to watch star-studded Spring Festival television galas.

With the festival falling on Jan 29 this year, one good choice is Henan Satellite TV's 2025 Spring Festival gala, which will air at 7:30 pm on Sunday on both Henan Satellite TV and the multimedia platform Elephant News.

"The theme revolves around deep-rooted family culture in China, and is infused with elements of traditional Henan culture," says the show's chief director Li Weijia.

A performance from the station's 2021 Spring Festival gala, Night Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace, went viral on Chinese social media. Taking inspiration from Henan Museum's glazed pottery figurines, female performers dressed in Tang Dynasty (618-907) costumes and in traditional makeup danced elegantly.

The gala is part of Chinese Festivals, an annual series produced by Henan Broadcasting System, which has a reputation for being popular with the young.

The opening of this year's gala features a virtual band consisting of four three-dimensional animated human-like characters based on the weapons of the Four Heavenly Kings, whose statues are often seen at Buddhist temples.

Li Ziqi, one of the country's most popular influencers, will interact with artists at an intangible cultural heritage fair set against a picturesque Henan backdrop.