Spring Festival celebrated in Moldovan capital: Chinese show on stage of Mihai Eminescu Theatre dedicated to Year of Fire Horse

The Spring Festival, which marks the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Fire Horse, was celebrated in Chisinau with an extensive cultural performance held at the Mihai Eminescu National Theatre. The event was organized by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Moldova.

The audience had the opportunity to watch the cultural show, Happy Spring Festival 2026, performed by artists from the Vocational College of Arts from   the Fujian Province, China. The event is part of a string of Spring Festival activities organized by the Chinese Embassy and marks the first visit to Moldova by a Chinese artistic troupe within the Happy Spring Festival programme.

Chinese Ambassador to Moldova Dong Zhihua thanked the Moldovan partners for their support in organizing the event. The Spring Festival is the most important holiday of the Chinese nation, symbolizing reunion, hope and new beginnings.

“Although China and Moldova are geographically distant, the ties between our peoples remain sincere and warm. Civilizations gain color through exchanges, and cultures are enriched through mutual learning. I am delighted to see that, in recent years, an increasing number of Moldovan friends have begun to learn the Chinese language, explore China’s history and engage with Chinese culture. I hope that China and Moldova will continue to promote culture as a bridge to bring our peoples closer and deepen mutual affection, so that the story of friendship and cooperation between China and Moldova can continue to write new chapters,” said Dong Zhihua.

The artistic troupe comes from Fujian Province, considered a key point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, a region known for its spirit of openness and rich cultural traditions. The programme included diverse artistic moments, such as Dance in Spring, Tea Harvesting, Min Nan puppet theatre and a cello solo titled Awaiting the Spring Wind.

The ambassador emphasized that, through art and culture, the performance reflects China’s desire to promote cultural exchanges and international cooperation, including within the Belt and Road initiative.

“May the Year of the Horse bring you all good luck, happiness and success in all your endeavors!” the ambassador said.

For her part, State Secretary of the Culture Ministry Marcela Nistor highlighted the importance of the cultural cooperation between the two countries.

“Moldova values its friendship and cultural cooperation with the People’s Republic of China. Each project and cultural exchange represent a chapter in a shared story that brings our peoples closer together. May the New Year bring health, prosperity and new cultural projects,” the official said.

The Year of the Fire Horse starts on 17 February 2026, with the first New Moon of the year, marking the official start of the Lunar New Year. In the Chinese zodiac, the combination of the Horse and the Fire element occurs once every 60 years and is associated with energy, dynamism and transformations.