Global contest to design Spring Festival mascot  

中国企业面向全球征集“春节娃娃”形象

Beijing (CNS) – A Chinese comics company initiated a global competition on Wednesday to design a mascot for Spring Festival in Beijing.

Chen Weidong, president of Tianjin Shenjie Comics Ltd., said Santa Claus and the popularity of Christmas among young people in China inspired him to create a Spring Festival mascot.

But the mascot should embody the Asian philosophy of communion with nature, rather than the benevolence that is associated with Santa Claus, according to Chen.

"We hope to learn different understandings to Spring Festival from people in different countries and cultural backgrounds, as well as images of the festival mascot in their heads," Chen said.

The competition is expected to take one year, and one million yuan will be shared among winners in five categories.