CCTV will air its 'small New Year' show, with a range of performances aimed at drawing the youth.

Chunwan, or the Spring Festival gala, has become an important ritual for Chinese people. China Central Television will present an entertainment program titled 2022 Spring Festival Web Gala on Tuesday night－the day of "small New Year", or xiaonian in Chinese, which is usually celebrated a week before Chinese New Year.

Traditional Chinese culture, national confidence and the aerospace industry are the focus of the gala, along with singing, dancing and traditional Chinese and Western instrumental music.

Despite the word "web" in the event's official name, it will be broadcast both on TV and online video platforms.

In 2011, CCTV's web gala made its debut on the first day of Spring Festival. With the development of the internet, the online gala has become a way for CCTV to extend its reach among Chinese youth.

The internet has developed into such an intrinsic part of our lives and has changed the way we consume media, especially young people.

"We are willing to use the means and methods of media integration to attract a wider audience, especially young people," says Tang Xiaoyan, chief producer of the gala.

"We would like our entertainment gala to speak to the young people in a fresh way, and to achieve positive feedback."

The theme of this year's online gala remains kaixin, which can be translated as both "happy" and "new beginning", aiming to recall the efforts made to promote social development in the past year and send best wishes for the new year.

"Young people would like to express themselves and happily create new things, so our event would like to capture this vigor and confidence," says Tang.

The opening of the show will feature 100 young dancers, and the audiences will be treated to some spectacular special effects and set designs.

"Modern technologies are being used to enhance visual effects and interaction with audiences in many galas on CCTV, and our show is no exception," says Tang.

CCTV's virtual female host Wang Bingbing will be the star of a 3D video themed around the 2022 Winter Olympics, being held in Beijing and Hebei province in February. The virtual character will help to provide the audience with an immersive experience.

In addition, movie-style special effects will enrich an aerospace-themed singing performance, making people feel like they are traveling in space.

"The show will have a technological feel and give audiences a perfect mix of modernity and tradition," says singer-songwriter Shang Wenjie, who will perform at the show.

Shang will collaborate with an artist of khoomei, a traditional throat-singing technique, to present a new adaptation of her song Little Stars. In addition, she will recite a part of Tianwen (Quest for Heavenly Truth), a poem written by Qu Yuan of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

Tianwen is also the name of China's first Mars mission. On Feb 24, Tianwen 1 entered a preset orbit above Mars. According to the China National Space Administration, by naming the mission after the poem, it intends to illustrate China's determination to explore outer space and implant the love of science among the nation's youth.

"The sound of khoomei is stunning. Making high and low sounds simultaneously, the style creates a sense of space, like 'putting questions' to the universe," Shang says.

"I'm happy to perform in the show and pay tribute to the people in China's aerospace industry, as well as promote the country's culture, the understanding of nature and the universe, and explorations in science and technology."

The gala has many acts focusing on traditional culture, according to organizers.

A folk dance troupe will put on a performance titled Inheritance, which is based on stories from four great Chinese classical novels－Outlaws of the Marsh, Journey to the West, Romance of the Three Kingdoms and A Dream of Red Mansions. Its ending will feature a traditional folk dance style called yingge, which is popular in Guangdong province.

"For young people, the internet is a place to not only quickly gather information, but also to be impressed by traditional culture and art," Shang says.

"Even the older generations can learn how young people view traditional culture today via the internet. And that's a real role the internet is playing－connecting people."

Tang says young Chinese radiate self-confidence and positive energy in the way they express themselves, adding that they are impressive.

During the show, pop singer Jackson Wang will explain how he became determined to overcome difficulties and pursue his dream. Instead of wearing fancy clothes and putting up intricate stage decorations, Wang will sing his latest song, recounting his experience of striving for his career in a foreign country and feeling the warmth from strangers.

"With the song, I would like to show who I am and what I really want, and to comfort people who work away from home and feel lonely like me," says Wang.

Wang also calls upon young people to be brave and discover what they are passionate about. "Just go wild and believe in yourself!"

Many young people may be inspired by a choir of elderly singers and their jovial performance. With an average age of 75, the choir, made up of alumni of the prestigious Tsinghua University, has become popular online, thanks to its performance on last year's web gala.

Clad in dresses, shirts and bow ties, while swaying to the music, their unique interpretation of the popular song Adolescents attracted billions of views.

They are expected to surprise the audience again this year. An upgraded version of the song will be accompanied by the Shanghai City Symphony Orchestra.

Mi Weimin, the choir's conductor, says the choir gave him a chance to demonstrate his passion for music and life.

"Though it takes me four hours or more each time to coordinate members and rehearse the song, I can feel a sense of achievement, and that's what keeps me going," Mi says.

However, some choir members expressed concern about their performances this time, as their previous one had achieved unexpected success.

"I'm not sure if the audience will like this show. What we can do is to try our best and be open to feedback," says Mi, adding that he is happy the elderly are being offered a stage to contribute to society in their own way.

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