Happy Chinese New Year, our dear readers!

It’s that time again, when hundreds of millions of Chinese people return to their hometowns to celebrate the most important traditional festival of the year: Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival.

The Spring Festival is a special time for China, a dynamic country that is both ancient and modern, as well as for people worldwide who are interested in Chinese culture. According to the State Council Information Office, the Chinese New Year will be celebrated in more than 130 countries and regions.

This year, the majority of Chinese will rush home like the wind on high-speed trains. Did you know that China registered 25,000 km of high-speed rail tracks by the end of 2017? That’s over 15,500 miles, more than double the distance from New York to Beijing. More amazing, China plans to register 38,000 km of high-speed rail tracks by 2025, which is nearly equal to the equatorial circumference of Earth.

During the week-long holiday, Chinese will send digital red envelopes – digital versions of traditional red envelopes stuffed with cash – to family and friends via Chinese mobile social platforms such as WeChat and Alipay. The growing trend is an amazing example of how modern technology is being used to enhance traditional Chinese culture. Last year, users of WeChat sent about 46 billion electronic red envelopes over the holiday period.

These are just some examples of how China has transformed and advanced in recent years.

During the holiday, you may notice more Chinese friends visiting your city. It is estimated that about 6.5 million Chinese will travel overseas during the week-long holiday, spending an average of about $1,500 per trip. Don’t forget to say hi to them. Chinese people are very friendly and love making new friends.

This year is also a special time for the nation. China will mark the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up, a policy which paved the way for China’s great achievements and moved China even closer to center stage in the world.

This year is a special time for People’s Daily, too. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of People’s Daily, which has grown from a single newspaper into a major international news brand consisting of some 30 publications with hundreds of millions of daily readers. In the new era, we will strive to inform more people about China, with coverage that is comprehensive and complete, so as to enhance mutual understanding.

From all of us at People’s Daily, we want to thank you for your support. Happy Spring Festival to you all. We wish you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous Year of the Dog.