On 11 February, the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester and Manchester City Football Club jointly hosted a Spring Festival celebration during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Fulham at the Etihad Stadium. Consul General Tang Rui attended the event, which was joined by more than 50,000 spectators.

During the club's "Blue Carpet" interactive session, Consul General Tang was interviewed by the host. He introduce the cultural significance of Spring Festival family reunions and the heritage of Chinese traditions, and extended New Year greetings for the Year of the Horse to the audience. Before the match, traditional performances including dragon and lion dances and shoulder ballet, presented by local Chinese community groups and the Guizhou Acrobatic Troupe, drew rounds of applause and cheers from the crowd. During the much-anticipated player entrance, a large custom-made canvas bearing the English message "Celebrating the Chinese Year of the Horse" was displayed at the centre circle, while the stadium’s big screen flashed New Year wishes—turning the pitch into a joyous sea of Eastern festivity.

The event was a key part of the Consulate General's series of Chinese New Year celebrations, aiming to showcase traditional Chinese culture through the medium of football and help enhance the British public's understanding of China.