Dunhuang-themed decorations adorn a Beijing subway. [Photo/WeChat account: dunhuanglyj]

The handrails inside Beijing subway carriages have been updated with vibrant Dunhuang-themed designs. The initiative merges millennium-old Eastern desert oasis aesthetics with festive Chinese New Year celebrations.

Titled "Chinese New Year, Dunhuang Journey", this cultural tourism campaign has been launched across Beijing's underground network. As the Spring Festival travel period approaches, it extends a festive invitation from the Silk Road city to travelers and local residents.

In the runup to Chinese New Year, Dunhuang is promoting its traditional festive customs, with its distinctive lantern displays being highlighted in an effort to showcase the rich celebrations of Northwest China.

According to an official from the Dunhuang's culture, sports and radio and television bureau, winter in Dunhuang offers a more serene and tranquil desert experience compared to the busy season.

The bureau aims to utilize the broad reach of the Beijing subway to shift public perception — Dunhuang is not only about ancient murals and deserts but also offers lively contemporary festive experiences.

It offer visitors the chance to enjoy lantern festivals, savor Northwestern cuisine, and gain a deeper understanding of Silk Road culture through its traditional celebrations.

The "Chinese New Year, Dunhuang Journey" subway campaign will run until the end of the Spring Festival holiday, covering the peak travel period.

As trains shuttle through Beijing, the handrails adorned with Dunhuang's timeless artistry act as cultural bridges, spreading the city's Chinese New Year customs along the subway's routes.