More than 500 people attended a Spring Festival celebration featuring Suzhou City at China Institute, a non-profit organization that focuses exclusively on China, in New York City on January 8.

In the activity, Chen Feng and Xie Ying, two Pingtan artists from Suzhou, introduced and performed the art form that combines storytelling and ballad singing in the Suzhou dialect.

Yao Huifen, a representative inheritor of Suzhou embroidery, talked with participants eager to understand the craft known for its elegant pattern, artistic design and fine handwork. Suzhou embroidery was recognized as national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.

Shen Fengying and Shen Guofang as Kunqu Opera artists have performed more than 400 shows in their world tours. In this activity, they invited participants to learn about the distinctive Chinese opera from a close distance, such as observing how they put facial makeup.

The activity also included making dumpling, lion dance performance and tasting of Biluochun tea, a specialty of Suzhou.