The publicity chief of the Communist Party of China (CPC) extended New Year greetings to performers and staff of the China Central Television (CCTV)'s Spring Festival gala during a visit to rehearsals on Tuesday.

Liu Qibao, head of the publicity department of the CPC Central Committee, encouraged the actors and staff to create a splendid gala suitable for both refined and popular tastes.

The 2014 CCTV gala will be aired both on TV and online at 8:00 P.M. Jan. 30, and performances will include singing, dancing, cross talks, mini dramas, martial art and opera. Talent show winners will also present performances.

Well-known film Director Feng Xiaogang, mostly known for film comedies, is the general director of the gala.

Since it was first held on New Year's Eve in the early 1980s, watching the annual gala has become one of the most important activities for Chinese families, as they sit together enjoying the entertainment before new year.

However, its popularity has declined in recent years as Internet users scorned the gala as rigid, outdated and lacking in a grassroots foundation.