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Chinese New Year celebration wows as Super Bowl halftime show disappoints

Click to play video: 'China upstages Super Bowl halftime show with robo-filled Spring Gala kickoff event'
China upstages Super Bowl halftime show with robo-filled Spring Gala kickoff event
WATCH ABOVE: China upstages Super Bowl halftime show with robo-filled Spring Gala kickoff event – Feb 8, 2016

The year of the monkey kicked off with the Spring Festival Gala, which many say overshadowed the Super Bowl halftime show.

The gala is an annual variety show that is shown live on CCTV during Chinese New Year’s Eve.

It is made of various performances that showcase traditional and modern culture, from Chinese opera and the music of China’s minority groups – Mongolians, Uyghur, etc – to break dancing and western magic shows.

This year’s gala was hosted in the city of Guangzhou on Sunday and one of its segments is receiving praise for its technological marvel.

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Five hundred and forty Chinese-made robots — standing 16.5 inches tall and weighing 1.5 kilograms — were featured doing synchronized dance moves as Chinese artist Sun Nan sang. At the end of the segment, 26 drones showered the robots with lights.

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In contrast, Super Bowl 50, which took place on the same day, has been criticized for its less-than-spectacular halftime performance.

Many critics like Wendy Geller of Yahoo describe the halftime show as dull, boring and “definitely a cold play.”

While Beyoncé’s performance during the show was praised, it’s not without controversy.

Pictures circulated on social media of Beyoncé’s dancers throwing their fists in the air, a symbolic gesture of Black Panthers, and holding a sign that read “Justice 4 Mario Woods.”

MORE: Beyoncé criticized for apparent homage to Black Panthers during Super Bowl halftime show

Woods, 26, was fatally shot by a San Francisco police officer in December. Police said the man was armed with a knife and was shot after approaching an officer and refusing to drop the knife.

Online, viewers were just as vocal about what they thought of the halftime show.

Perhaps the most disappointed fan of all, however, was Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

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