2014 was the fourth straight year that the countdown started with a Chinese cultural show - a performance sponsored by the Yunnan provincial government- which also paid for pricey tourism ads on the giant screen.

The Yunnan dancers showcased "the rich heritage of one of China's most beautiful provinces", New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote in a congratulatory letter.

This year in Times Square, the Sino-American Friendship Association will celebrate the 2016 China-US Tourism Year and feature a traditional Chinese ribbon dance.

Sadly, one year ago today, 36 people died in a stampede in Shanghai's The Bund district. The tragedy led to the cancellation this year of New Year's Eve celebrations in that waterfront area.

New York's Finest, who will be 6,000 strong in the area, do their typically strong job of keeping order in and around Times Square. There will be 500 to 600 more uniformed and plainclothes officers in the area than last year, Police Commissioner William Bratton said on Tuesday.

Many New Yorkers wouldn't dare be seen in Times Square on Dec 31, and often sneer at the innocents they assume come from Ohio or Pennsylvania or other distant points in the continental US who drive hundreds of miles to be part of such a gaudy event.

New Year's Eve always draws celebrities with a certain gusto like Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin or Jenny McCarthy (all three will be on hand Thursday), those with a party streak willing to brave hundreds of thousands of people and what usually are shivering temperatures.

Still, there is a euphoria in the air as the crowd giddily counts down the hours and minutes, many wearing those giant foam eyeglasses that spell out 2016.

A cynic would find the whole exercise foolhardy, but most quietly accept that the passing of another year is a time to reflect on what could have been and what will be, with one year less to accomplish it.

After the clock strikes 12, it's time for the crews to clear the streets of the detritus of the world's largest block party. (What makes people stack their garbage on the side of an overstuffed trash can, as if that has some sort of civic honor?)

Anyway, let's hope the digits on the calendar turn over to a more peaceful year around the world.

Contact the writer at williamhennelly@chinadailyusa.com