Children draw horses at a countdown event to the 2026 Spring Festival Gala in Yiwu. [Photo/Tide News]

A countdown event to the 2026 Spring Festival Gala was held at Xiuhu Square on Jan 29 in Yiwu, a county-level city in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, which has been appointed as a sub-venue of the Gala.

The event combined cultural creativity, intangible cultural heritage, local cuisine, interactive games, and performances, showcasing Yiwu's vibrant commercial culture and festive spirit.

The exhibition area featured an array of cultural and creative products, with the plush toys of the 2026 Gala's horse-themed mascots — Qi Qi, Ji Ji, Chi Chi, and Cheng Cheng — drawing significant attention.

Other products such as fridge magnets, Hetian jade pendants, coffee mugs, and incense pieces were also displayed, enhancing the cultural atmosphere.

The "Bobo Goose" mascots, inspired by Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Luo Binwang's famous poem Ode to the Goose, were a crowd favorite, attracting many for photos. As the poet's hometown, Yiwu launched the "Bobo Goose" brand in October 2023, and over 20 enterprises have been authorized to produce.

Xu Yi, a stallholder at the event, brought over 80 items from the "Bobo Goose" series to sell, like eraser sets and automatic pencil sets. "We hope to showcase Yiwu's city image and local brands through the Spring Festival Gala," said Xu.

The accidentally popular "cry-cry horse" plush toy also sold out quickly, becoming an event highlight.

The food area, featuring traditional Yiwu delicacies like red glutinous rice balls and Donghe meat pies, was equally popular, offering a taste of local flavors.

The event included interactive experiences like paper-cutting, Spring Festival couplet writing, and traditional games, adding to the festive cheer.