Longhua Temple bell rings out for the New Year

Tourists from home and abroad ushered in the year of 2025 at Shanghai Longhua Temple on Tuesday night in both traditional and chic ways as the iconic "first tour of the New Year in Shanghai" was celebrated.

From dreamlike drone shows and dazzling lights to bells ringing and dragon dances, tourists from countries such as Germany, Japan, Slovakia and Indonesia and international students in Shanghai celebrated the New Year in a boisterous and festive atmosphere.

For the first time, the event, which dates back to 1989, has been expanded to the banks of the Huangpu River with a grand celebration to amaze travelers at Gate M West Bund Dream Center, a former cement factory turned landmark.

The West Bund was illuminated by nearly 1,000 lights, casting a magical glow along the 800-meter riverside promenade. The lights created a dreamy atmosphere, reminiscent of snowflakes gently falling onto a starry river.

Tourists enjoyed skating on an outdoor ice rink by the riverside, a light show, winter market, and pop-up performances.

Adding to the magic, Brass Band, led a lively parade along the waterfront, with musical performances and floats.

Katarina Strharska from Slovakia said she is visiting Shanghai for the first time.

"I have never been here and I feel very excited," she said. "The visa free policy is extremely convenient and Shanghai is very beautiful."

Russian Varvara Savilova said: "Shanghai is very special because the city combines culture and modern architecture, traditional buildings and modern skyscrapers, for me it's really amazing."

The main venue for the 2025 Shanghai New Year's first tour was set in the Longhua area.

A giant folk-themed paper-cutting scroll, created by the team of Li Shoubai, a representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Shanghai-style paper-cutting, showcased the features of Xuhui and Shanghai at Longhua Square. Li skillfully blended Shanghai's diverse culture with the festive atmosphere of the New Year while expressing people's best wishes for 2025.

The celebration climaxed when the bronze bell was rung at midnight on New Year's Eve at Longhua Temple, a traditional way to celebrate the New Year in China.

The bell is struck 108 times, a tradition believed to bring good luck while eliminating grief and worry.

Dragon and lion dances took place, as did acrobatic performances and lantern rolling, a traditional children's game. They could also get a stamp mark at the New Year's post office.

People burst into cheers when counting down the arrival of 2025, and expressed best wishes to each other.

At midnight, people tasted hot vegetarian noodles at the temple, another longstanding Chinese custom.