A lantern performance is held during the Rudong Spring Festival Gala on Jan 18. [Photo/WeChat account: dream8086]

A local Spring Festival gala was held in Rudong county, Nantong, Jiangsu province on Jan 18 to welcome the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Singing and dancing performances marked the opening of the gala, and a comedic skit performed by several children was held for the first time at the event.

The gala also featured a Chinese orchestral performance, which was well-received by the audience.

In addition, a play depicting residents' daily lives was performed in the Rudong dialect, bringing the themes closer to home for audiences.

A local Peking Opera troupe that has won several national awards performed at the event as well, as did an acrobatics team that recently won gold at the 4th World Chinese Spring Festival Gala held in Los Angeles, the United States.

Last but not least, a magic show themed around Rudong's transformation over the years was held. Plum blossoms, which represent tenacity in Chinese culture, featured heavily in the show.