The bustling Spring Festival is filled with a multitude of sounds. The crackling of firecrackers, the chatter of friends and family, and the melodies of Chinese New Year songs blend to create a festive symphony. Put on your headphones and immerse yourself in a soundful New Year experience.
Chinese New Year songs
Chinese New Year songs often resonate through supermarkets and streets, providing the soundtrack to the entire Spring Festival. Cantonese songs like "迎春花 (Spring Blossoms)," "祝福你 (Bless You)," and "财神到 (Fortune God Has Arrived)" add to the prelude of Spring Festival in Guangdong.
(Photo: Nanfang Daily)
Atmosphere in airports & train stations
As the Spring Festival draws near, airports and railway stations are always bustling with passengers carrying large bags of luggage and eager to return home. During the Spring Festival travel rush, the radio beeps that fill the railway stations and airports, along with the sounds of luggage wheels rubbing against the concrete floor, have become the exclusive background music for the Spring Festival across the country.
(Photo: Nanfang Daily)
It is expected that the number of passengers sent by Guangdong Province will reach 127 million during the Spring Festival travel rush (from January 26 to March 5 this year), an increase of about 25% compared with 2023. Guangdong has increased connections to ensure traffic at various hubs.
Fireworks and firecrackers
Setting off fireworks and firecrackers is a traditional folk custom to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, and Chinese people believe it drives away evil spirits and brings joy and good luck. With red paper confetti scattered on the floor, it symbolizes a vibrant start to the new year.
(Photo provided to GDToday)
During the 2024 Spring Festival, many places in Guangdong will be allowed to set off fireworks and firecrackers for a limited time, creating a festive atmosphere with lively sounds.
Lion dance drums and gongs
In Guangdong, the dancing lion is considered an auspicious symbol for warding off evil spirits, and the lion dance is performed during festivals and has been passed down through generations. To celebrate the Spring Festival, various regions in Guangdong often hold lion dance performances with the accompaniment of drums and gongs. According to custom, many merchants will hang up red envelopes and green vegetables in front of the shop for the lion to pick, hoping to bring rolling wealth.
(Photo: Nanfang Daily)
Chinese New Year greetings
When visiting friends and relatives during the Spring Festival, exchanging New Year's blessings is essential. In Guangdong, Cantonese phrases like "Kung Hei Fat Choi (恭喜发财)", which means "wishing you prosperity", and "San Nin Faai Lok (新年快乐)", meaning "happy Chinese New Year," are commonly used. In addition to these, there are other expressions like "Dim Gwo Luk Ze (掂过碌蔗)", which means everything is going smoothly, "Pun Mun But Mun (盆满钵满)", describing abundant earnings, as well as "Zyu Lung Jap Seoi (猪笼入水)", literally meaning pig cage into the water, signifying a flow of riches since water symbolizes wealth in Guangdong.
