BELGRADE, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- An immersive music and opera gala at the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade drew hundreds of attendees on Friday evening, marking the launch of the 2026 Chinese New Year celebrations in Serbia.
The gala featured performances by both Chinese and Serbian artists, highlighting cultural traditions from the two countries.
Serbia's National Folk Dance Ensemble "Kolo" presented the Kolubara Dance, a folk tradition from western Serbia. Dragoljub Bajic, director of the Belgrade National Theatre, performed the song "Bella Ciao," while musician Slobodan Trkulja presented the Chinese folk classic "Jasmine Flower" together with "My Beautiful Black Eyes," blending Chinese and Serbian musical elements.
The Chinese program opened with a traditional Yingge Dance titled "In the Name of Yingge," performed by children from Beijing's Fengtai District Children's Palace. Artists from southwest China's Sichuan Province staged a series of performances showcasing regional culture, including excerpts from Sichuan Opera featuring the Monkey King, instrumental pieces played on pipa and erhu such as "A Moonlit Night on the Spring River" and "Horse Racing," as well as dance works including "Koi" and a Tibetan dance drama.
The face-changing act, a signature technique of Sichuan Opera, drew strong audience response. A robotic dance performed by a dozen robots concluded the gala, with many attendees going on stage afterward to take photos.
Serbian Deputy Parliament Speaker Marina Ragus attended the event and extended New Year greetings, praising the joint performances by Chinese and Serbian artists.
Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming said the gala marked the first event in the 2026 "Happy Spring Festival" series in Serbia. He said nearly 20 programs will be staged across seven cities nationwide this year. Li added that the Year of the Horse symbolizes vitality and energy, and conveyed New Year wishes to the audience. ■