Some 1,000 lanterns illuminate the night sky in Changzhi, Shanxi province, on Feb 2. [Photo by Shen Jinguang/For China Daily]

The past few weeks marked the first celebration of Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, after it was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Dec 24.

According to a UNESCO document, the festival has been included for its wide range of rituals and unique cultural elements that engage all of Chinese society. These include prayers for good fortune and family reunions, activities planned by elders and public events organized by communities.

UNESCO noted that the traditional knowledge and customs associated with Spring Festival are passed down informally within families and communities, as well as formally through the educational system, promoting family values, social cohesion and peace, while providing a sense of social identity.

It also emphasized that the festival embodies harmony between humans and nature, and contributes to sustainable development.

As one of the cradles of Chinese civilization, the North China province of Shanxi is the place where centuries-old traditions and cultural elements are still alive in people's daily lives. And this is especially true during the Spring Festival period.