Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region Collaborates to Jointly Welcome New Year for First Time
At 11:59 pm on December 31, 2024, the 60-second New Year countdown commenced. As the final ten seconds of 2024 ticked down — ''10, 9... 3, 2, 1'' — residents from Beijing's Shougang Park, Tianjin's Drum Tower Square, and Hebei's Shijiazhuang Zhengding Ancient City joined voices through a live link to count down together, welcoming the new year. This was the first-ever synchronized New Year's Eve countdown event held across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
The 2025 Beijing New Year Countdown Celebration, hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, took place at the No.4 Blast Furnace in Shougang Park. This year's event has been refreshed and upgraded from previous editions, with the theme ''Charming Beijing Beaming Prosperity''. Through the illumination of the entire park, coordinated activities within the city, and synchronized events across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the event showcased Beijing's city image comprehensively and from multiple angles. It highlighted the robust momentum and broad prospects of the coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Present at the event were Chinese guests as well as diplomats from 22 countries.
As night fell, the Shougang Park was transformed into a dazzling spectacle of lights. Major landmarks such as Qunming Lake Street, South Road of No.2 Blast Furnace, No.1 and No.3 Blast Furnaces, and the Elevated Park were illuminated, creating a vibrant atmosphere for the New Year's Eve celebrations. The park integrates cultural, commercial, tourism, and sports activities, offering people a rich sense of ceremony and fulfillment. Tens of thousands of people gathered in the park to enjoy a convenient and comprehensive New Year's Eve experience, indulging in food, drinks, entertainment, shopping, and festivities that fully capture the joy and warmth of the holiday season.
The iconic structures of ''Two Parks and One River''—the Gongbeige Pavilion in Shougang Park, the Yongding Tower in the Garden Expo Park, and the Yongding Building by the Yongding River—were all lit up in unison with the main venue at Shougang Park. Additionally, nearly 30 New Year's Eve events were organized across various districts in Beijing, adding to the festive ambiance.
The New Year Countdown Celebration in Beijing was synchronized with that in Tianjin and Hebei, kicking off the ''Harmonious and Joyful Spring Festival in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei'' series of cultural and tourism activities for 2025. This initiative aims to promote high-quality development in the cultural and tourism sectors of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
At 11:38 pm, the New Year Countdown Celebration officially began. Focusing on Beijing's efforts for building itself into ''Four Centers'', the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the joint pursuit of a better life by the people, the celebration unfolded through the following three chapters, namely ''Swallows of Spring: A Symphony of Beijing'', ''United in Heart: A Journey to Build Dreams'', ''Hand in Hand: Welcoming the New Year''. The event featured scenario-based dances, acrobatics, a fusion of traditional Chinese folk music with rock, and choral performances by young people. These performances blended classical and modern elements, as well as Chinese traditions with international flair, showcasing the rich history and contemporary vibrancy of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
