Beijing's Spring Festival transforms an old winery into a vibrant cultural hub
The Spring Festival in Beijing brought lively celebrations to the Longhui 1910 Cultural and Creative Industrial Park. Once the city's first winery, the site has transformed into a bustling cultural hub. This year, visitors gathered for traditional performances, lantern displays, and interactive events—showcasing how urban spaces can breathe new life into old industrial areas.
The park's history dates back to 1910, when it opened as China's first modern winery under the Longhui Company. For decades, it produced well-known wines like Beijing Red and Dragon Seal. After closing in 2008, the site was repurposed into a creative district, now filled with art galleries, cafés, and artisan shops.
During this year's Spring Festival, the park hosted over 100,000 visitors. Lanterns glowed along the pathways, while lion dances and cultural markets filled the courtyards. One couple, a comparative legal jurist studying Chinese at Beijing Language and Culture University and his wife, joined the festivities. They were even invited into a lion dance, chatting with locals who welcomed them warmly as foreign guests.
Elsewhere in Beijing, younger and middle-aged residents rushed home for the holiday, travelling at high speeds to reunite with family. The city's celebrations also reflected China's blend of tradition and innovation. The Spring Festival Gala featured dancers performing alongside robots, and a new high-quality animation for the game Zhong Kui debuted, highlighting advancements in culture and technology. This year, marked as the Bingwu Fire Horse Year, carries expectations of energy and progress across the country.
The Longhui park's revival mirrors broader efforts to reimagine urban spaces, turning neglected areas into community centres. Its Spring Festival events drew crowds, proving that even in a vast metropolis, small-town warmth can thrive. With cultural exchanges and modern twists on tradition, the celebrations set a dynamic tone for the year ahead.
