‘To the Masses’: Decoding Xi Jinping’s Lunar New Year Visits

‘To the Masses’: Decoding Xi Jinping’s Lunar New Year Visits

Chinese state media Xinhua reported that President Xi Jinping visited the northern city of Tianjin on February 1 and 2, ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year. The visit continued a regular practice by Chinese leaders of engaging with grassroots communities as one year concludes and people from all walks of life slow down for … Read more

Unpacking the Layers of China’s Spring Festival Gala

Unpacking the Layers of China’s Spring Festival Gala

The China Central Television (CCTV) annual Spring Festival Gala, the most-watched TV program in the world, attracts a viewership that approaches at least a third of China’s total population of 1.4 billion, far exceeding similar extravaganzas such as the Eurovision Song Contest. Since its inception in 1983, the Gala has become a defining element of … Read more