Invited by Culture Express of CGTN, Professor Zhao Yupei from the College of Media and International Culture (CMIC) at Zhejiang University, shared with viewers worldwide her impression of the Spring Festival Gala 2021 as Chinese people celebrate the Lunar New Year. The hosts and Prof. Zhao discussed the elements that made this year’s Spring Festival Gala stand out from among previous years’.

Prof. Zhao offered insight on the TV broadcast of the annual celebration, describing what impressed her the most. The first on her list was the new combination of VR technology and immersive interactions that gave off a vivid effect. The sketch comedy named “The Balcony” also made it onto her list because it recollected the country’s hard times during the fight against COVID-19, and it depicted the common memories shared by every Chinese person. Additionally, Prof. Zhao thought the spirit of the gala reflected the spirit of the ox that is strong, loyal and hardworking.

With regard to some of the changes of the gala, Prof. Zhao pointed out three main aspects—the mixture of traditional and modern culture, the pop stars’ performances infused with Chinese culture, and the thriving interactive technology and media convergence like the 8K Ultra HD videos, 5G and AI+VR naked eye 3D technology that rendered an immersive experience. Watching this year’s Spring Festival Gala together was an unprecedented experience for Prof. Zhao and her family as it was the first time the gala captured the attention of her entire family.