Watch: World's most watched TV show 'Spring Festival Gala' on China's CCTV

The infamous Spring Festival Gala aired on Thursday night on the state-run China Central Television network (CCTV).

Said to be the most watched TV show, it has been a national tradition in China since 1983 while celebrating the Lunar New year - best known for food, fireworks and family reunions.

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The number of viewers has been massive, standing at 700 million this year. It had also made a Guinness World Records in 2012 when the show had viewership of 498.7 million, making it the globe’s “Most Watched National Network TV Broadcast.”

The event this year ran for about four hours and included songs, dance routines and comedy acts spotlighting China’s provinces and various ethnic groups. Spots about national heroes and key government projects -- such as the Belt and Road Initiative -- were also showcased.

The show had previously been regarded as a must-watch for many in China on the Eve of Chinese New Year, but it had a setback in the number of audience popularity in recent years.

Last year’s show was so heavily criticized — for its sexist sketches, propaganda-like performances, and overuse of young pop idols who were caught lip-syncing — that the country’s media regulators had to censor online criticism to prevent the backlash from growing out of control.

Although, even this year, a comedy sketch performed during the show has caused anger online after critics said that it appeared to show a “Chinese” woman using blackface and giant fake buttocks to depict an African character.

The skit, which was apparently intended to celebrate China’s relationship with African countries was termed as “disgusting” and “completely racist” online after it aired on Thursday night.

Blackface – non-black performers wearing face paint to portray black characters – is a sensitive matter in much of the West.