Traditional prayers, fireworks and fairs yesterday marked the Lunar New Year — alongside 21st-century humanoid robots.
The activities ushered in the Year of the Horse, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, succeeding the Year of the Snake.
The solemn peal of a temple bell rang out 108 times — an auspicious number — as people flocked to Baoan Temple (保安宮) in Taipei yesterday morning to pray for happiness and success in the coming year.
Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA
They lit incense sticks, bowed their heads and left offerings of colorful flower bouquets on outdoor tables on the temple grounds.
In Taiwan, many follow the custom of zou chun (走春), or “spring walk,” by visiting temples, scenic spots or making courtesy calls to relatives and friends.
Meanwhile, politicians visited temples, prayed for prosperity and well-being while handing out red envelopes to temple-goers.
Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA
Lunar New Year’s Day travel also brought widespread congestion across Taiwan, with freeway traffic up an estimated 30.5 percent, the Freeway Bureau said.
The Lunar New Year is the most important annual holiday in Taiwan and other East Asian nations, and is celebrated outside the region, too.
In Beijing, thousands of people jammed into the former Temple of Earth to buy snacks, toys and trinkets from stalls.
Photo: Reuters
Sun Jing, who brought her parents to the capital for the holiday, said the atmosphere was as lively as in her childhood.
“I haven’t felt such a strong sense of Lunar New Year festivity in a very, very long time,” she said.
China celebrated the Lunar New Year on Monday night with a TV show that once again featured humanoid robots.
Photo: Reuters
One of the highlights of the China Central Television Spring Festival gala was a martial arts performance by children and robots. For several minutes, humanoids from Hangzhou Yushu Technology Co (杭州宇樹科技), better known as Unitree Robotics, showed different sequences and even brandished swords.
Viewers applauded the robots, with one saying they give good guidance and direction for young people.
However, one man said that while China’s advances in robotics are great, they detracted from his experience.
Photo: AP
“It lacks a bit of the New Year atmosphere,” Li Bo said. “It’s not as enjoyable as when I was little watching the gala.”
In Hong Kong, incense smoke wafted into the air at a temple where people line up every year to make wishes for the new year at midnight.
Holding up a cluster of incense sticks, many bowed their heads several times before planting the sticks in containers placed in front of a temple hall.
Photo: Reuters
Entertainers in Vietnam sang at an outdoor countdown event before multiple fireworks shows at several cities in the Southeast Asian nation, where the festival is called Tet.
Light shows lit up bridges and skyscrapers as the fireworks went off and crowds clapped in rhythm to live pop music performances.
Additional reporting by CNA
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