Chinese New Year 2026: Grand Batti Festival in Lalitpur to welcome the Year of the Horse

Beijing/Kathmandu, Falgun 6. The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, officially began today, Falgun 6 (February 17), and China is welcoming the Year of the Horse. This year's festival is special because it marks the arrival of the Year of the Horse, a symbol of strength, resilience and continued prosperity in Chinese culture. While there is a festive atmosphere across the country in China, the Chinese New Year is being celebrated in a grand manner in Nepal and around the world.

Chinese Lantern Festival in Lalitpur: Patan Museum Illuminated

On the occasion of Chinese New Year, the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival 2026 has become a special attraction in Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Nepal. Organized at the historic Patan Museum, this festival presents a wonderful blend of culture, tradition and light.

This event is jointly organized by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China and Lalitpur Metropolitan City. The Overseas Chinese Association in Nepal and the China Cultural Center Nepal have supported it as co-organizers.

The festival has been opened to the public after the opening ceremony today. The exhibition, which will run from February 18 to March 3, is free for all visitors.

Organized with the slogan "Snow-Capped Peaks Aglow with Hues, Festive Lanterns Bring Auspicious Blessings", the festival holds special significance as a symbol of Nepal-China friendship, prosperity and cultural harmony. The exhibition showcases a magnificent display of traditional Chinese lantern art, which reflects the joy and blessings of the Lunar New Year.

The organizers have cordially invited everyone to experience the vibrant spirit of Chinese culture by participating in this cultural festival held in the heart of Lalitpur.

China's special initiative to attract foreign tourists

The Chinese government has introduced special policies and programs to attract foreign tourists targeting this year's New Year. Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping made the announcement at a press conference in Beijing on February 11. China has expanded its visa-free entry policy, which now allows citizens of 48 countries to travel without a visa, and the number of countries that grant reciprocal visa exemptions has reached 29. This has already had a direct impact.

To provide convenience to tourists, more than 13,000 tax refund shops have been set up, where foreign visitors can get discounts of up to 10 percent on their purchases. In addition, mobile payments, international card payments and cash transactions have been encouraged. "We warmly invite friends from all over the world to visit China during the Spring Festival, shop here, and share the joy of the Chinese New Year with us," said Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng.

Focus on promoting economic activity and consumption

To stimulate the domestic economy, the government has launched a major campaign to increase consumption during the nine-day public holiday. Various local governments have announced a joint spending of about 2.05 billion yuan (about 296 million U.S. dollars) on consumption promotion. Under this, a new type of invoice lottery will be launched in 50 cities. According to this, consumers with invoices of 100 yuan or more will be able to participate in the prize draw. The goal is to distribute 1 billion yuan in prizes during the nine-day holiday alone, and the prize pool is planned to reach 10 billion yuan in six months.

In addition, the government is also distributing 62.5 billion yuan in national subsidies to various sectors, mainly focusing on the 'trade-in' scheme for the purchase of large household appliances and vehicles. The scheme, which was launched in 2024, is expected to stimulate consumption.

President Xi Jinping's greetings

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping extended New Year greetings to all Chinese people at home and abroad at a ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 3 (February 14). He said that the coming year is important as it marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). President Xi encouraged the Chinese people to maintain high morale in the Year of the Horse and embark on a new journey of Chinese modernization.

This year's Chinese New Year has shown the convergence of tradition and modernity. On the one hand, the originality and cultural reflection of the traditional festival are present, while on the other hand, government policies, economic activities, global travel, and Nepal-China cultural cooperation have made this festival more comprehensive and influential.