Stephon Marbury makes an appearance

Having recently retired from the basketball court, Stephon Marbury appeared on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala and wished a happy new year to the people in the audience and those watching at home. He was invited to launch a round of red envelope distribution activities online via an interactive link.

He announced his retirement after playing his final game in the China Basketball Association (CBA) on Sunday, with a final three-pointer and a win for the Beijing Fly Dragons over Jiangsu Tongxi. The basketball player later posted on his Weibo account that he would appear at the Gala.

“I’m thankful to share the stage with so many superstars. Thank you CCTV for having me on the Gala,” wrote Marbury.

Maxim Mrvica plays The Silk Road

Coatian pianist Maxim Mrvica played his brand-new melody, “The Silk Road”, on the stage at this year’s CCTV Spring Festival Gala. The melody integrates elements from some regional music such as Russian, Indian, Chinese and central European. Maxim has performed over 100 concerts since 2008.