As the Year of the Rabbit on the Chinese lunar calendar draws near, people across the country are staging joyous activities to greet the new year which starts on Jan 22.

Beijing will launch over 4,000 cultural events from Saturday for the coming Spring Festival, said the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.

According to the bureau, activities presenting intangible cultural heritage, art performances and exhibitions, temple fairs, lantern fairs, flower displays, and free film screenings will be organized.

Traditional brand companies and inheritors of intangible cultural heritage will present 46 events, including dance performances, interactive exhibitions, a New Year goods festival, and handwork fairs.

A total of 1,687 performances of 244 plays will also be given in 104 venues in the city.

Hongcun Village in east China's Anhui Province, which was inscribed as UNESCO world heritage sites in 2000, is receiving large groups of tourists. As a traditional way to celebrate the festival, villagers are busy making lanterns to add festive atmosphere. Tourists are also entertaining themselves by joining the celebration.

People from across China are also preparing various delicious delicacies to share the festive mood.

In east China's Zhejiang Province and south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, locals are making glutinous rice cakes and Zongzi, a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves, to bring a taste of sweetness to the Spring Festival.

As the Chinese lunar year of 2023 will be a Year of the Rabbit, various forms of rabbit-style handicrafts are favored by people.

In north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, calligraphy enthusiasts are writing Chinese character "fu", meaning blessings and happiness, and folk artists are creating paper-cutting works for the festival.

Flowers and green plants have also become popular among customers. In recent few days, flower production bases and wholesale markets have seen booming sales. Flower shopping around the Spring Festival has a long history in China, as flowers symbolize people's good wishes for the new year.