The robot, invented by a Chinese company and supplied by French technology firm INNOV8 Group, quickly became one of the most talked-about features of the parade, adding a light-hearted technological twist to the festivities.

　　"It carries strong symbolic meaning," said Stephane Bohbot, chief executive of INNOV8 Group. He added that new technologies could be integrated into these celebrations and show how technology can improve people's lives.

　　The millennia-old Spring Festival is also about the future and future generations, he noted.

　　Behind the robotic usher came traditional dragon and lion dance troupes. Their pounding drums echoed along the avenue as performers conveyed wishes of good fortune, prosperity and vitality.

　　People in Chinese traditional attires perform during a parade celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, France, Feb. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Baihui)

　　The procession also featured a wide range of traditional Chinese cultural traditions, including more than 100 participants dressed in elegant Hanfu (traditional Chinese attire), the Yingge folk dance from south China's Guangdong Province, martial arts and tai-chi demonstrations.

　　Didier, a resident who came with his family, said it was his first time seeing a Chinese New Year parade on the Champs-Elysees. "The dance performances in traditional costumes were especially unforgettable," he told Xinhua.

　　Marc-Antoine Jamet, president of the Champs-Elysees Committee, said the parade has become a clearly identified cultural rendezvous on the avenue, noting that the horse symbolizes auspiciousness in both Chinese and French cultures.