The 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala has concluded its fifth and final rehearsal on Wednesday. The much-anticipated annual gala is now ready to present a visual and auditory feast for audiences nationwide on Friday.

It has been revealed that individuals from many diverse backgrounds, such as noodle-pulling masters, technicians, police officers and athletes, will participate in the opening short film of the gala, titled 'Our Spring Festival Gala'.

The main venue is located in Beijing, and this year's Spring Festival Gala will set up branch venues in four locations, namely, Shenyang in Liaoning province, Changsha in Hunan province, Xi'an city in Shaanxi province, and Kashgar prefecture in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

This marks the first time the gala has established a branch venue in Xinjiang, with Kashgar in the southwestern part of the region being the chosen location.

Kashgar, with its extensive history, diverse culture and distinct ethnic features, stands as a quintessential representation of Xinjiang.

It holds the well-deserved reputation of "If you haven't been to Kashgar, you haven't truly experienced Xinjiang".

Its expansive territory is characterized by breathtaking landscapes, encompassing oases, deserts, poplar forests, glaciers and snow-capped mountains, offering a plethora of rich and varied tourist attractions.

Over 2,000 years ago, Kashgar was a crucial hub on the Silk Road, attracting merchants and traders from both China and abroad. As a place of diverse ethnicities, it has also become a stage for the exchange and integration of various cultures, with a rich cultural heritage.

Situated on the southwestern border of China, Kashgar, leveraging its strategic location, has also become a crucial gateway for China's westward opening and an international golden corridor for China to access Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia and even Europe.

Local residents are eagerly looking forward to the gala hosting a branch venue in Kashgar.

Urmajan Turdi, the owner of a nang bread shop in Kashgar, was pleased to learn that the gala would establish a sub-venue in his city.

"In recent years, Kashgar has experienced positive development. I hope that, through the Spring Festival Gala, Kashgar can attract more tourists to come and explore the city," he said.

Last year, the Ancient City of Kashgar, a rammed-earth building complex with a 2,000-year history and now a national 5A tourism attraction in the prefecture, received 8.7497 million visitors, marking a 96.68 percent year-on-year growth.

Salamat Kari, a local entrepreneur who manages the three-story homestay Gul's Home within the ancient city, has been actively involved in adding new decorations and furniture to her establishment.

"Upon hearing the news of the Spring Festival Gala being hosted right at our doorstep, I made a firm decision to renovate and upgrade the homestay to enhance the overall guest experience. I am confident that with the gala acting as a global 'advertisement' for Kashgar, we will attract even more visitors this year," she said.

For local performing and art industry practitioners in Kashgar, the gala also serves as a great opportunity to learn about art creation and program production.

Dilshat Abbas, a performer with an art troupe in Kashgar's Maigaiti county, said that it's a real challenge to capture all of Kashgar's charm within a brief gala performance.

"That requires high-level directing skills," he said.

"I really hope to pick up planning ideas and techniques from the CMG gala. Whether it's the style of the program or how it's designed, it's a fantastic opportunity to boost the art scene in Kashgar."