Adorned with long white hair and a vibrant cosplay skirt, Miya (pseudonym), a 24-year-old from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, joined thousands of anime fans and cosplayers at the first Beijing Animation Comic Carnival.

The carnival, held from Jan 31 to Feb 2 at the Capital International Exhibition Center of China in Beijing, brought together cosplayers and anime enthusiasts to celebrate the Chinese New Year, blending traditional customs with a modern twist.

Miya attended the event dressed as her favorite character, Firefly, from the strategic space adventure game Honkai: Star Rail, developed by Chinese game company miHoYo. Firefly is a warrior tasked with protecting her queen from a devastating insectoid threat.

"Firefly's dedication to safeguarding others really resonates with me," Miya said. "She embodies courage and a love for life — qualities I want to hold in my own life."

Unlike other anime expos Miya had attended, which primarily showcased merchandise, the carnival featured snack stalls and interactive games inspired by Chinese New Year traditions, such as riddles and stamp-collecting challenges.

"The carnival created such a strong sense of community," Miya said. "When I danced with fellow fans, it felt like stepping into the anime world, surrounded by an exciting atmosphere. Sharing those moments with them made the New Year holiday feel even more special."

Some cosplayers chose to incorporate auspicious elements into their costumes to express good wishes for the New Year. One of them is Wyatt (pseudonym), a 24-year-old from Jiangxi province.

For Wyatt, attending the carnival enriched his New Year celebrations by combining the charm of anime culture with traditional festivities.

He cosplayed as Aventurine, also a character from Honkai: Star Rail, known for his wealth and good fortune. His costume featured motifs such as golden ingots, jade pendants, and auspicious cloud patterns — symbols of prosperity and good luck in Chinese culture.

"Cosplaying as Aventurine isn't just about paying homage to the character; it also represents my hopes for a blessed New Year," Wyatt explained. "This fusion allows me to express my passion for anime culture in a meaningful way while fully immersing myself in the joyous, vibrant spirit of the Spring Festival."

Zhen Taiyue, 24, has been an anime fan since primary school. He noted that, beyond offline events like the carnival, anime enthusiasts have also brought the New Year celebrations online through various videos and music projects.

One of them is the annual online event Bainianji (meaning "celebration of the Chinese New Year"), produced by the video-sharing platform Bilibili.

The event showcases popular anime intellectual properties through videos, creating an online community where fans exchange New Year greetings via bullet comments.

According to Zhen, these activities offer young audiences an innovative way to celebrate — not just with family, but through shared passions.

"It's a different kind of 'family reunion' — one that's unique to young people, fostering a special sense of belonging," he said.

Beyond the festivities

Liang Yuexi (pseudonym), born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the Snake, was a special guest at the carnival. She chose to spend her New Year holiday with her fans, dressed as Feng Baobao, a character from The Outcast, a Chinese metaphysical comic series first published in 2015.

For Liang, cosplay is a path to freedom and authenticity. "In daily life, we often play roles out of obligation. Cosplay lets me temporarily escape and embrace a persona I truly admire," she said.

She explained that Feng Baobao's simple, direct, and pure qualities resonate with her, making the portrayal feel natural.

"True cosplay is about embodying a character's spirit, not just copying their appearance. It's a form of deep empathy and liberation," she said.

Liang took her love for cosplay a step further, turning it into a career. As an animation lecturer and cosplay-focused blogger, she believes comics have the power to ignite passion in young people.

"By faithfully recreating beloved characters, cosplay can inspire those who feel lost to rediscover their courage," Liang said. "As a performer, I find great satisfaction in seeing how my hobby can empower others."

Sa Laoshi (pseudonym) is also a special guest at the carnival. As a video blogger, he is dedicated to revitalizing the culture of Sanxingdui, an ancient archaeological site in Sichuan province, through cosplay.

To date, Sa has handcrafted six costumes, each with a unique meaning and name, reimagining the divine essence of the ancient Shu civilization, which thrived more than 3,000 years ago.

His creative work has earned him over 375,000 followers on Bilibili.

For Sa, cosplay is a way to promote cultural exchange. One of his most memorable experiences was attending a comic exhibition for the first time two years ago, where he encountered a foreign photographer eager to take photos of his costume.

"I noticed the photographer had been following me for a while, but I couldn't speak English. He pointed at his camera, signaling that he wanted to take photos of me," Sa recalled. "We hardly spoke, but I was thrilled that cosplay gave me the opportunity to introduce the beauty of Sanxingdui to friends around the world."