In Chengdu, where foggy mornings often cloak the Sichuan Basin, locals kick off Lunar New Year celebrations with a ritual as essential as dumplings: checking the sky forecast. This year’s festivities on January 29 saw residents grinning wider than their iconic spicy hotpot pots when sunshine broke through – and here’s why ☀️.
"Blue skies mean everything," explains lifelong resident Li Mei, 28. "We rush to parks for family picnics, fly kites at Wide and Narrow Alley, or sip tea in open-air courtyards. Rain? That’s indoor mahjong weather!" 🀄
Meteorologists report that 2026’s clear skies allowed record crowds at Wuhou Temple’s lantern displays and the Dujiangyan Panda Base’s holiday events. Even the city’s famous malatang street vendors saw longer queues under the golden glow!
Cultural experts note this tradition reflects Chengdu’s harmony with nature – a philosophy as timeless as the nearby Qingcheng Mountain. With climate shifts making sunny winters rarer, locals now cherish these moments like precious hongbao envelopes 🧧.
