Tourists dance off against a robot dressed in ethnic attire. (Photo provided by the relevant unit)

Dancing off against a robot in ethnic attire, grabbing embroidered balls, ring toss, ink rubbings… On February 20th, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the rich interactive activities at the Changyang Qingjiang Gallery scenic area delighted visitors. That day, the scenic area received over ten thousand visitors, setting a new historical record for single-day attendance during the Spring Festival holiday.

“The robot dances so interestingly,” said 10-year-old Li Rui after watching the human-robot dance-off in the morning, immediately pulling his father Li Qiang to take a photo with the robot. On February 18th, Li Qiang’s family of 11 people, including two other related families, drove from Luoyang to Yichang. Li Qiang mentioned that among the three cars were five children. Before the trip, they carefully researched, finding the area’s Tujia culture and the special holiday主题活动 particularly suitable for children, which is why they chose it as their first stop.

“I got another 10 ‘Fu’ coins!” exclaimed tourist Liu Xinyi from Xi’an to her parents after receiving a reward for succeeding in an antiphonal singing activity. This was her second interactive project; earlier, she had also won a reward in a ring toss game. Unlike her parents, who were busy photographing the beautiful landscape, the 19-year-old preferred the traditional interactive activities set up along the route, such as antiphonal singing, beanbag toss, and hoop rolling. Her goal was to participate in as many small games as possible along the way to collect enough ‘Fu’ coins to exchange for cultural and creative products from the scenic area. Liu Xinyi felt that here, every family member’s travel purpose was fulfilled.

“You can appreciate the beautiful scenery, learn about folk customs, and also win rewards, transforming the experience from ‘a cursory glance’ into ‘an in-depth immersion’,” explained Gao Kaifang, Deputy Director of the Marketing Department at the Qingjiang Gallery scenic area. Targeting the characteristic of family travel during the Spring Festival, the scenic area launched a series of activities intertwining traditional Tujia customs with the culture of the Year of the Horse. Nine ‘Fu’ character check-in points, interactive games to win ‘Fu’ coins, and special Year of the Horse installations arranged along the route greatly enriched the scenic area’s offerings, satisfying the tourism needs of all age groups in a family. Starting from the second day of the Lunar New Year, visitor traffic increased significantly, setting new single-day reception records consecutively.

Changyang Qingjiang Gallery

The Changyang Qingjiang Gallery is a scenic area along the Qingjiang River in Hubei Province, China, renowned for its stunning karst landscape of clear waters and lush, mist-shrouded mountains. Historically, this region has been home to the Tujia ethnic minority for centuries, with the natural gallery itself being formed over millennia by geological processes. Today, it serves as a major tourist destination, offering boat tours that showcase both its natural beauty and the cultural heritage of the local communities.

Tujia culture

Tujia culture refers to the traditions and heritage of the Tujia ethnic group, one of China’s 56 officially recognized ethnic minorities, primarily residing in the mountainous Wuling region of Hunan, Hubei, and Guizhou provinces. Historically, they are considered descendants of ancient Ba people, with a legacy that includes the unique architectural style of stilted houses (Diaojiaolou) and traditional practices like the hand-waving dance (Baishou Dance) and the elaborate Tujia brocade (Xilankapu). While they have largely assimilated into Han Chinese culture over centuries, efforts continue to preserve their distinct language, festivals, and customs.

Spring Festival

The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday in China, marking the beginning of the lunar new year. Its history dates back over 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty, originating from rituals to honor deities and ancestors at the end of the winter harvest. Today, it is celebrated with family reunions, feasts, fireworks, and customs like giving red envelopes to symbolize good fortune for the coming year.

Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year is a major cultural festival celebrated across East Asia and in diaspora communities worldwide, marking the beginning of the lunisolar calendar. Its history dates back over 3,000 years to ancient agrarian societies in China, where it began as a ceremony to honor deities and ancestors while praying for a good harvest. Today, it is a vibrant holiday centered on family reunions, feasts, and customs like giving red envelopes and dragon dances to symbolize luck and prosperity for the coming year.

Year of the Horse

“Year of the Horse” is not a specific place or cultural site, but rather one of the 12 zodiac signs in the Chinese and some other East Asian lunar calendars. It represents a year in a repeating 12-year cycle, with the next Horse year occurring in 2026. Historically, the Horse is associated in Chinese culture with attributes like energy, freedom, and success.

antiphonal singing

Antiphonal singing is a musical practice in which two or more groups of singers or musicians perform in alternation, often in a call-and-response pattern. It has ancient roots, notably in Jewish and early Christian liturgical traditions, where it was used in psalms and prayers to engage congregations. This form of singing later evolved and spread widely, influencing genres from Gregorian chant to gospel music and various folk traditions around the world.

ring toss

Ring toss is a traditional carnival and backyard game, not a specific cultural site, with origins likely dating back to ancient Greece where similar disc-tossing games were played. The modern version, involving throwing rings onto pegs, became a popular fairground attraction in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is now a common game at festivals worldwide, often associated with winning prizes.

ink rubbings

Ink rubbings are a traditional Chinese technique for copying inscriptions from stone, metal, or wood surfaces by pressing paper onto them and applying ink. Historically developed over a thousand years ago, the method was crucial for preserving and disseminating texts, artwork, and historical records, especially from ancient steles and bronze vessels. Today, it remains a valued practice in epigraphy, art, and historical scholarship, blending craftsmanship with documentation.