A child takes part in a parade during Chinese New Year celebrations, through the streets of the city center, in Mexico City, Mexico on February 07, 2026. Photo: VCG

　　As the Spring Festival draws near, Chinese cultural elements are spreading at an accelerated pace across the globe. From a Chinese New Year parade in Paris led by a humanoid robot, to Spring Festival Gala promotional videos appearing in metro systems in major cities across Germany and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, fire-horse-themed artwork on trams in the Netherlands, a growing array of Chinese elements is being embraced abroad.

　　With hashtags such as "Chinamaxxing" and "China travel" going viral on social media platforms, and several foreign leaders choosing to share videos of their China visit on social media platforms in early 2026, Chinese culture has gained renewed visibility internationally. The upcoming Chinese New Year, particularly the Year of the Horse, has become a key moment for cultural dialogue between China and the world.

　　Global reach

　　

　　This year, celebrations of the Spring Festival abroad have increasingly moved beyond Chinese communities, drawing wider participation from local residents. Technology-based elements, social media dissemination and even AI-generated videos have played a role in expanding the reach of Spring Festival celebrations.

　　In early February, hundreds of Chinese and French artists welcomed the Chinese Year of the Horse in a parade on Paris" Champs-Elysees. Walking at the head of the parade was a humanoid robot invented by a Chinese company and supplied by a French technology firm. The robot turned, paused and waved to spectators in rhythm with the music, prompting cheers and raised smartphones from crowds lining the boulevard, according to the Xinhua News Agency.