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Long ago, in a tiny village nestled at the foot of a mountain by the sea, people lived peaceful lives farming and fishing. But every time the end of winter rolled around, that peace was shattered.
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A massive beast named Nian would climb down from the mountain to search for food. It was so enormous that every time it descended, it would accidentally knock over the village's wooden fences, and the thunderous noise would send all the villagers scattering in fear.
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Everyone only ever saw Nian's huge horns, heard its low roars, and found its giant footprints in the mud, so they all assumed it was a vicious monster that meant to cause harm on purpose. No one knew that Nian couldn't see well in the dark, and that when it was hungry, it would only panic and fumble around helplessly.
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On the final night of that year, cold wind whipped snowflakes through the village. Just like they did every year, the villagers packed their belongings, helped the elderly and carried the young to flee to the deep mountains to take shelter, and a thick, uneasy atmosphere hung over the whole village.
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Just then, a white-haired elderly woman passed through the village. She wanted to ask to stay the night, and when she saw everyone rushing to escape, she stopped to ask carefully what was going on with Nian.
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A brave girl named Xiaoling stepped forward. She told the elderly woman that Nian was actually very timid—it always stayed away from the red cloths hung in front of doorways, and the last time a copper pot fell to the ground with a loud crash, Nian had been so scared it turned and ran straight into the forest.
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After listening, the elderly woman thought for a moment and suggested that everyone stay that year to try out a safe plan. The villagers followed her advice: first, they hung bright red cloths all around the village square, and lit red lanterns under all the eaves.
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Next, the villagers set up many large drums behind the sturdy village fences. To keep everyone safe, households with elderly people, young children, or pets were all settled in the strongest stone house at a distance, where they waited quietly for dawn.
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Night fell completely, and the surroundings were so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard. Nian stepped out of the dark woods, caught the scent of food drifting from the village, and slowly drew closer to the settlement.
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But when it reached the edge of the village, it suddenly caught sight of the bright red stretch of color under the lights, and immediately grew uneasy. Its originally heavy footsteps gradually slowed to a halt.
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Seeing Nian approach, the villagers behind the fence immediately began to beat the large drums in a steady rhythm. The loud, even thud of the drums clearly sent a message to the giant beast: ahead lay the territory of humans, a path it could not pass.
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Nian was startled by the sudden drumming, and was just about to turn and run back when the observant Xiaoling, using the light from the lanterns, spotted that Nian's paws were tangled tightly in rough vines, and it had a few shallow cuts on its legs.
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Everyone stopped beating the drums at once and kept a safe distance from Nian. Then, someone gently set down a basket of fresh vegetables along the path leading back to the forest. Nian managed to wriggle free of the vines on its own, ate all the food in the basket, and quietly turned to leave.
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The next morning, the villagers stepped out of their homes and found every single building was completely unharmed, and they were all overjoyed. The elderly woman reminded them that driving Nian away wasn't enough, so the group climbed the mountain to investigate. They learned that an autumn storm had destroyed the bamboo forest, and Nian's food source had nearly disappeared entirely.
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The nearby villages joined forces to replant bamboo and fruit trees, built fences to guide Nian away from people's homes, and installed warning bells at the edge of the forest. They never used harmful traps, and the red decorations and drumbeats became permanent boundary signals.
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At the end of winter the following year, Nian came down the mountain again. This time, it stopped outside the fence, heard the drumbeats, and followed the newly built bamboo path to the designated feeding area in the forest. The villagers watched from a distance, and finally understood that careful observation and clear boundaries could dissolve fear.
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Once they confirmed everything was safe, everyone opened their doors, lit even more lanterns, and gathered around the table to share a lavish New Year's Eve dinner. The children received red envelopes filled with good wishes and seeds, while the adults talked late into the night, grateful for everyone's care and protection over the past year.
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They also burned dry bamboo stalks in a safe, open clearing; the crackling popping sound was just like firecrackers. They had prepared water ahead of time and cleared away dry grass to prevent fires, and this safe, loud sound later became a tradition to welcome the new year.
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Many years passed, and Xiaoling grew up to be a forest ranger. She tracked Nian's movement routes, checked the forest's water sources, and taught children never to approach wild animals on their own. Every year at the end of winter, she worked with everyone to repair the fences and hang up the lanterns.
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The forest gradually regained its vitality, and Nian always maintained a peaceful distance from humans. The related traditions spread far and wide, and the Spring Festival became a beloved holiday for families to reunite and welcome new beginnings. Taking the initiative to understand others can dissolve fear, and by caring for the environment and looking out for one another, every new year can be warm and bright.