The Silk Road City Spring Festival Gala is held in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on Jan 14, called Little New Year – or Xiaonian in Chinese – which usually takes place a week before the Lunar New Year. A series of fine performances were staged during the gala. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

Five women in stunning costumes play pipa, a four-stringed Chinese lute, during the Silk Road City Spring Festival Gala, held in Xi'an on Jan 14. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

Actors and actresses perform in a classical opera during the Silk Road City Spring Festival Gala held in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

Two acrobats stage a dramatic performance during the Silk Road City Spring Festival Gala. [Photo/Xi'an news network]