• What to Do Monday Now That the Super Bowl's Over

  People & Stories |

  In a chronological twist of fate, the world's two most watched television programs -- China Central Television's annual Spring Festival Gala and the NFL Super Bowl -- were broadcast within 12 hours of each other. Now that all that exciting TV watching is over, here are some other things you can do on the first day of Spring Festival

• Taiwanese Novelist Chiung Yao Joins Chinese Society of Film and Literature

  People & Stories |

  Taiwan's acclaimed romance novelist Chiung Yao was granted membership of the Chinese Society of Film and Literature following her formal application to join the organization in Beijing on December 21. The move made her the only Taiwanese member the society has ever had.

• Women in Santa Claus Red Offer Free Hugs in Nanjing

  People & Stories |

  Four young women wearing midriff baring clothes in Santa Claus red and carrying "want a hug" signs offer free hugs to strangers on a street in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province on December 23, 2015. [China News Service/Yang Bo]

• Chongqing School Butchers a Pig Before Kids

  People & Stories |

  Slaughtering pigs and eating pork is one of the time-honored traditions in rural areas in China to celebrate the Spring Festival. But many people have never seen it done in person.

• Sales of Fireworks Down to Their Lowest Level in Years

  People & Stories |

  There's a lot of shopping going on ahead of Sunday night's Spring Festival celebrations, but one traditional item is proving less popular this year: fireworks.

• Britain's Prince George to Start at Nursery in New Year

  People & Stories |

  Prince George, the young son of Britain's Prince William and wife Kate, is to start at nursery school in the new year, his father's office said on Friday.

• Thai Teen Reminds Fans of Late Teresa Teng

  People & Stories |

  Vanatsaya Viseskul, a sweet-voiced, round-faced 16-year-old Thai singer, whose name, at the moment, is inextricably linked with the late Teresa Teng, a singer from Taiwan whose love songs gained her wide fame across Asia, sat on a chair in a dressing room of a theater in Beijing.

• Newly-Wed Soldier, Conductor Couple Grab Rare 30-Min Reunion

  People & Stories |

  Fan Ding, a frontier soldier assigned to security tasks during the Spring Festival travel rush, recently got a 30-minute platform reunion with his wife Lei Yun, a conductor also devoted to the peak period.

• Brit Gets Job as Beijing Courier

  People & Stories |

  Chinese e-commerce supplier Suning Tesco is hiring foreigners to work as couriers during the Spring Festival to ensure efficient express delivery services and cover staff shortages at this busy time.

• Air China Expands San Francisco Service; Travel Info from around the Internet

  People & Stories |

  Air China is increasing its service to San Francisco from daily to 11 times per week (wow). Additional flights will be added beginning August 2, 2016, although the airline did not specify which days will receive the extra service.