Ordinary people in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province perform at the Spring Festival gala on Jan 20. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

A gala to greet the upcoming Chinese New Year was broadcast on television, radio and apps on the evening of January 20, local media reported.

The event was sponsored by the Taizhou municipal department of publicity, Taizhou municipal bureau of culture, radio, tourism and sports and Taizhou federation of literary and art circles.

The gala, which featured 20 performances including dancing, singing, acrobatic shows and cross talks, was designed to showcase the city's spirit and culture, said Shang Wenbo, the general director of the gala.

The programs, which tell stories such as how Taizhou was listed as one of China's happiest cities, established workshops to advance common prosperity and fought against the COVID-19 pandemic, were performed in Taizhou dialects.

One thing that stood out about this year's gala was that ordinary people got the chance to participate, said Shang.

The song Happy Taizhou was sung by editors, hosts and journalists, and it sounded really authentic, according to Shang.

Famous artists including Lu Xin, Zhou Xuan, Huo Xingche, Zhang Yazhouand Li Yunxiao were also invited to stage performances for the gala.

Shang said that the gala plays an important role in creating a festive atmosphere and showcasing the city's history and development to residents.

He added that the gala will incorporate more elements from the daily lives of ordinary people in the future.