Yanguan Ancient City Rings in New Year With Day-to-Night Celebration

Yanguan Ancient City – Tides and Music Resort will host a four-day New Year celebration from December 31, 2025, to January 3, 2026, featuring live music, cultural activities, and light displays across the historic riverside town.

Held under the theme "New Year Bonfire Music Party," the events bring visitors together through shared performances and seasonal traditions marking the start of the new year.

Located in Haining City, neighboring Zhejiang Province, Yanguan Ancient City sits along the northern banks of the Qiantang River, which is known for its tidal bores – a natural phenomenon most commonly observed in September.

Daytime activities will take place throughout the old town. On North Main Street, a roaming "Tide Band" will lead musical parades, creating moving street performances that follow the flow of visitors.

At the Music House Museum, the Tide Philharmonic Orchestra will present New Year concerts themed "Antipodes: Chinese Music and South American Tango – A Global New Year Celebration" and "Golden Drums and Brass," blending classical and contemporary styles.

An immersive live-action game, "Tides & Music Challenge," will also take place across the town, inviting visitors to role-play as journalists from the Republic of China period (1912-1949). Participants move through streets and alleyways while completing interactive tasks that introduce lesser-known local stories and elements of Yanquan's cultural heritage.

Food and market activities will be held in the opera stage area and at the "Myriad Market" on Back Street, where visitors can sample local dishes, including Yanquan gang rou (clay-pot braised pork belly), alongside specialty goods and live acoustic performances.

Evening events include the light show at the barbican of Gongchen Gate, where projected lighting highlights the town's historic stone structures. On January 1, 2026, the Saint Petersburg Boys Choir is scheduled to perform at Yanquan Theater as part of the holiday celebrations.

On New Year's Eve, a bonfire music gathering will be held on the Back Street Lawn, accompanied by live outdoor performances. Nearby, the Barbican Bar Music Party will feature amplified music, offering different ways to mark the transition into the new year.

The New Year events span both daytime and evening activities, combining traditional customs with contemporary entertainment across the historic town. Yanquan Ancient City – Tides and Music Resort plans to continue developing cultural tourism offerings that draw on local history while introducing new formats for holiday travel.