A group of international students in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Tuesday immersed in the unique culture of China's traditional Laba Festival, deepening their understanding of Chinese New Year customs.
More than 30 students from Southwest University took part in a comprehensive cultural event at Pianyan Ancient Town, a historic site with over 300 years of history, to experience the local customs and rich cultural legacy of China's ancient festival.
The Laba Festival, celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, marks the beginning of preparations for the Chinese New Year. One of the most well-known traditions is the cooking and eating of Laba congee. For many overseas students, it was their first time tasting this traditional dish.
"This is very different from our food because it's like rice and beans. In our country, it's mostly spicy, but it is sweet here. So, it's very different from, but we like it, we love it," said Anum, a student from Pakistan.
The event also featured local artists who showcased their calligraphy skills on-site, by writing Spring Festival couplets for these foreign students. Some of the young people also had the opportunity to try their hand at Chinese writing art themselves.
"I used to see this in social media and everywhere. And I really wanted to try it like how people feel when they are drawing, painting and writing because you learn something new, because it's a new culture, new traditions, new ways of thinking at the same time. I think it's a fortune or good luck or blessing. So I'm gonna stick this to my wall because I need this blessing in my life," said Abbastihad from Algeria.
To experience the diverse traditions of the Laba Festival, the international students participated in a range of cultural activities, including traditional crafts like flower arranging, sugar painting, and paper-cutting, as well as visiting an ancient theater to watch folk performances.
Int'l students discover rich traditions of Laba Festival in Chongqing
