The programs on mainstream television New Year's Eve galas are generally composed of two major categories: song and dance.
Among these, song performances occupy the majority.
In addition to elderly singers performing, there are also various pop stars, followed by some current hot figures – actors, athletes, and internet celebrities.
As a result, most viewers stop watching after their favorite idols have performed.
However, the program list released by Xihong Zoo is completely different.
This program list comprises a total of 20 performances.
It includes songs, dances, martial arts, acrobatics, crosstalk, skits, magic, and almost all other common performance forms.
Among these, there is only one song performance.
Upon seeing this "hardcore" program list, netizens who were initially observing became restless.
"These are all substantial acts, I'm so excited."
"These current galas really don't have much to offer anymore, especially after the drastic cuts to comedic performances."
"I remember the galas of my childhood were truly brilliant. What are these current galas all about? It's all about star power and traffic."
"They're back, it's all back."
"Speaking of which, I can understand animals singing and dancing, but magic seems a bit much, doesn't it?"
"Don't you think crosstalk and skits are even more excessive?"
"For the martial arts segment, could it be that little raccoon from last time?"
"The 300 yuan ticket price is absolutely worth it."
"Not just worth it, it's a steal."
"It's a pity they haven't announced the performers, only the program names."
"Why rush? Isn't New Year's Eve just around the corner?"
...
With the release of the Xihong Zoo New Year's Eve gala program list, major satellite TV stations instantly felt a sense of crisis.
They had never panicked this much during previous competitions between major TV stations.
After all, the program formats were similar, and it was all about who invited bigger stars and attracted more traffic.
Regardless of whether the audience enjoyed it, fans would eventually pay.
Now, Xihong Zoo has emerged as an unexpected contender.
If Xihong Zoo were to actually surpass them in viewership, it would be a huge embarrassment.
While the major TV stations were feeling anxious, time unknowingly advanced to the 31st.
As usual, Xihong Zoo was open for business on this day.
However, large and small stages were erected throughout the park.
Simultaneously, numerous colored lights and festive decorations appeared in the sky and corners of the park, and even the animals were dressed in festive attire.
As night approached, all the colored lights in the park were instantly lit up, combined with the festive music playing throughout the venue.
This immediately gave the tourists who had just entered the park a feeling of the New Year's arrival.
Just as everyone was captivated by the lively scene resembling a lantern festival, white snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the sky.
Seeing the snowflakes, people discovered the hidden snow-making machines.
Snow scenery, lantern festival – as these scenes combined, a long-lost term involuntarily emerged in everyone's minds.
The festive atmosphere of the New Year.
Even before the gala officially began, the emotions of the audience in the park had already been ignited.
Of course, there were also some things that puzzled them.
They hadn't discovered the main stage anywhere, nor had they found any seating areas.
If they hadn't confirmed the time and location multiple times, they might have suspected they had gone to the wrong place.
"What's going on? Where are we supposed to watch the gala today?"
"Yeah, why is there nothing here? They haven't told us where the main stage is."
"Could it be another unprecedented new format?"
"Perhaps we haven't found the right spot."
"Let's wait a bit longer, maybe it's not time yet."
...
As the audience felt increasingly confused, it was finally 8:00 PM.
At this moment, a giant hot air balloon slowly ascended from the center of the park.
When the hot air balloon reached a height where it could overlook the entire park, a voice came from the speakers in every corner of the park.
"Good evening, dear audience, I am Xiong Feng, the host for this Xihong Zoo New Year's Eve gala."
"And I am Zhu Meng, the host."
...
Listening to the voices emanating from all over the park and looking at the large hot air balloon in the sky, everyone suddenly understood.
"Wow, that's amazing! The hosts were literally sent to the heavens."
"I knew we couldn't find the main stage, turns out the main stage is in the sky."
"Being so high up at night, they must be freezing to death."
Before everyone could recover from the shock of the hosts' grand entrance, the two hosts soon announced the official start of the gala.
"This gala will not have a main stage; it will be a park-wide event. We will soon have guides leading you to different performance areas."
At this point, everyone finally understood why there was no main stage or audience seating.
They also became curious about the guides who would soon appear.
Just then, a series of heavy footsteps echoed from not far away.
The next moment, under the gaze of the entire audience, Yang Lin, dressed in festive attire, holding a small rabbit, and carrying a sack on his back, slowly approached them, riding an elephant also dressed in festive clothing.
When he reached them, holding a microphone, he said with a smile:
"The first performance for you today is our Twelve Zodiacs' Grand Chorus."
"Please follow me."
As soon as he finished speaking, the elephant beneath Yang Lin walked towards an artificial lake nearby.
The audience quickly followed.
When everyone had gathered by the artificial lake, the previously dark lake instantly lit up.
A platform made of floating logs, shimmering with iridescent light, appeared before everyone's eyes.
On the platform, various small animals were already waiting.
Counting from left to right, there were exactly 12 of them.
Upon seeing the appearance of these animals, everyone burst into laughter.
They had been wondering why a chorus performance was called the "Twelve Zodiacs' Grand Chorus."
Seeing these 12 animals, they instantly understood.
From left to right, the 12 animals were: Big Red Kangaroo Li Gang, White Bison, Siberian Tiger Shuai Shuai, Police Rabbit Judy, Jiao Baobao who was forced to wear dragon horns, Golden Python, Zebra, Tibetan Antelope, Yunnan Golden Monkey, Rooster, Border Collie Li Goudan, and Wild Boar.
And at this moment, these 12 animals all had a solemn expression.
Just as the audience was about to erupt in laughter, a melodious piece of music began to play from the platform.