Expats in Hefei experience traditional Lantern Festival customs

This year's Lantern Festival falls on February 5. On February 4, which is also the start of the Chinese solar term "Start of Spring", 22 overseas expats in Hefei, including international students and company employee families, were invited by the Hefei municipal government to a special celebration event that allow participants to experience traditional folk customs such as making lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, and having Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls).

"I feel so excited!" said Ba Cheng, an international student from Nepal, holding a big red palace lantern that he had just tied. Although his rabbit lantern was a little crooked, he still took a selfie with his work happily and was immersed in the charm of traditional Chinese festivals. "In previous years, I have also participated in lantern-making activities in my hometown, but this year is more special since it's the first time I make lanterns in China in a group. This is just what an authentic Chinese New Year should be like and is extremely intriguing."

During the event, the expatriates had a meal of "three-color Tangyuan" together. "I heard that the Chinese Lantern Festival is about eating Tangyuan, which symbolizes the reunion with family and friends," said Kassim, a third-year graduate student at the Hefei University of Technology.

"The purpose of holding this event is to help international friends living in Hefei to have an in-depth understanding and experience of Chinese folk culture during the Chinese New Year holiday." One of the organizers from the Hefei People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries said that this would be a good opportunity to further demonstrate the essence of traditional Chinese culture to international friends and promote cultural exchanges between China and other countries.