The Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) of 2026 fell on February 17. Around the most important annual celebration in China, the festive atmosphere was balanced by a sense of dedication in Aksu Prefecture, which borders both Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Police officers patrolled glaciers at an altitude of 3,000 meters, trekking through snow to ensure China's border security. Village residents of diverse ethnic backgrounds gathered and celebrated with songs and dances. At the same time, the militia cavalry company in Laohutai Township in Baicheng County braved wind and snow to deliver holiday greetings and supplies to herders living in remote mountainous areas.

Qiuci music and dance, which originate in Aksu, were featured on the nationally televised Spring Festival TV Gala, an additional source of pride for the local population. Staged annually by China Media Group (CMG), the gala combines music, dance, comedy sketches and other entertaining performances.

From border outposts to village stages, Aksu greeted the Spring Festival with joy and cultural confidence.

Safeguarding the borders 

On February 9, officers of the Pochengzi Border Inspection Station of the Aksu Border Management Detachment patrolled the Muzart Glacier and the southern entrance of the Xiata Ancient Trail at an altitude of about 3,000 meters.

The Pochengzi Border Inspection Station's jurisdiction covers more than 2,500 square km and includes a 43-km section of international border. The Xiata Ancient Trail Border Police Station under its administration is the most remote and challenging outpost of the detachment. The area it is located endures extreme cold and heavy snowfall in winter and is frequently affected by flooding. Immigration management police officers stationed there have long become used to life in this remote region, fulfilling the pledge that "responsibility carries a weight greater than mountains and rivers."

Through regular patrols and inspections, officers closely monitor situations along the border and fulfill their mission with concrete actions, ensuring frontier security and stability during the holiday season.

Village celebrations 

On February 11, a Spring Festival gala kicked off at the culture center of Akbulong Village in Charqi Town, Baicheng County. In addition to indoor performances including ethnic dances, opera-style dances and songs, people also celebrated the festival with a shehuo festive parade, which consists of outdoor dragon and lion dances, and yangge, a traditional folk dance.

"All the performances are created and staged by our fellow villagers. They reflect our own daily lives and watching them feels really exciting!" said Aishan Maimaiti, busy recording the event on his cellphone.

Charqi administers 13 villages. In 2021, a performing arts troupe of 22 members was established; today its membership has increased to 282. The shehuo troupe has expanded even more dramatically—from about 130 participants to nearly 2,000. During major festivals and community events, performers from all villages take part in the celebrations.

In recent years, Baicheng has leveraged village performances as a platform to advance cultural initiatives that benefit the public. In 2025 alone, local government departments at different levels organized 425 such events, reaching more than 89,000 people. In addition, eight community-level cultural development demonstration sites have been established. Rural cultural activities not only foster a stronger sense of shared identity and belonging but also enhance local people's confidence in rural revitalization.

Delivering holiday supplies 

On February 11, the militia cavalry company in Laohutai visited local herders. Stringing horses into the mountains, members of the company delivered holiday supplies—including rice, sugar, snacks and insulated food containers—to more than 40 households. The closest family lived about 5 km from the company headquarters, while the farthest was nearly 70 km away.

The company is located in the mountainous terrain northwest of the Baicheng county seat, less than 100 km from the border. The average altitude exceeds 2,000 meters, with some peaks rising above 4,000 meters. In this high-altitude, cold region, many areas are accessible only on horseback.

Beyond their duties of defending the border and conducting emergency rescue operations, members of the company also actively disseminate and interpret national policies for local residents and support rural revitalization efforts.

In 2022, the company developed a Plateau Cavalry Cultural Park. In 2024 alone, it received 150,000 tourist visits, generating more than 2.6 million yuan ($378,147) in revenue and creating employment for 246 local residents. A digital museum has also brought its history to life in innovative ways. The unit has received several honors from the Ministry of National Defense, including the title of "Eagles of the Plateau."

Qiuci culture shining on the national stage 

On the evening of February 16, the dance program Ancient Charm of the Silk Road, adapted from local dance drama Qiuci, was staged on the CMG Spring Festival TV Gala. Qiuci is the name of an ancient kingdom mostly based in Aksu. In Aksu, countless viewers watched the show, witnessing this dazzling showcase of Qiuci culture.

"Qiuci music and dance are treasures born from the cultural exchange along the ancient Silk Road. Appearing on the CMG Spring Festival TV Gala is both recognition of their artistic value and a vivid example of cultural inheritance and innovation," Hanikezi Siyi, a choreographer at the Tarim Song and Dance Theater in Aksu, told Xinjiang Today. "As a local artist, I feel incredibly proud and confident about future creations."

In recent years, Aksu has accelerated efforts to develop major cultural and tourism sites such as Kizil Caves and Qiuci Ancient City Ruins into top-level scenic destinations in the country. It has also created performances including A Date With Aksu and Qiuci Along the Silk Road, developed digital cultural intellectual properties including some based on the mural paintings of the Qiuci Grottoes, and hosted cultural tourism events including the Duolang and Qiuci Cultural Tourism Festival.

These initiatives continue to promote the innovative transformation and development of Qiuci culture. The showcase of Qiuci culture at the CMG Spring Festival TV Gala, the world's most-watched TV show, is expected to draw more tourists to Aksu.

(Guan Xiaoli, Director of the Baicheng County Multimedia News Center, also contributed to this article)

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