International students eager for Spring Festival celebration in Nanjing

2024-01-26 17:13:00

A pair of giant Spring Festival couplets, 15 meters in length and two meters in width, were unveiled at the Zhonghua Gate in Nanjing, January 21. Other such couplets on 12 city gates in Nanjing, including Xuanwu Gate, Zhongshan Gate, Jiefang Gate, were also open to public on the same day.

During the activity, several international students from countries like Morocco, Pakistan, Myanmar, Kenya and Yemen joined the calligraphers to experience traditional Chinese culture.

Lubna from Pakistan is pursuing a master's degree in Communication and Information Technology in Nanjing. She chose China not only for its research strengths in this field but also because of positive global image of Chinese people. She is also attracted by the city’s food. In her free time, she enjoys travelling around Nanjing and feels grateful for the hospitality of Nanjing people. “People are friendly in Nanjing, and that’s unforgettable.”

Bahzar Ali from Yemen speaks fluent Chinese and loves traditional Chinese culture, particularly calligraphy. At the event, he smoothly wrote "Fu" (blessing or happiness) on red paper for several times, and ended with writing “Long” (dragon) in cursive script style, winning praise from master calligraphers also on site.

An 20-year-old participant from Myanmar said that he looked forward to the lantern festival held annually at the Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River Scenic Area and experiencing the festive Chinese New Year celebration. He also plans to visit the Nanjing Museum to learn more about China’s history. "In the new year, I want to spend more time learning Chinese, further understand Nanjing, visit more places, and spread the message of peace and friendship in the world."

During the winter school holiday, Moroccan student Ellie does not plan to return to her home country. She has been in China for almost 10 months, and this will be her first time celebrating the Chinese New Year. Seeing the Spring Festival couplets on the City Wall and red lanterns along the streets, she is full of anticipation for the arrival of the Year of the Dragon. Noting that Chinese people send their best wishes to each other during the Spring Festival, she hopes to share heartfelt greetings from China to her own country.

For Jemaa from Pakistan, this is also his first time celebrating the Spring Festival in China. He plans to immerse himself in the festive atmosphere with friends in Nanjing. He said that Nanjing boasts a long history and vibrant culture, with the festival ceremonies and ionic dishes reflecting rich cultural diversity.

Ajub, also from Pakistan, said she first learned about the folk customs of Spring Festival from a book in English, believing it is meaningful to together with family and friends to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Usman, a 26-year-old Pakistani student, said that international students don’t feel lonely on campus even though there are fewer people during the winter vacation. He plans to invite his parents to visit China to celebrate the Spring Festival next year. He also said that China continues to become more international and Nanjing, an important birthplace of Chinese civilization, is also attracting more and more overseas students.

Kenyan student Allan came to Nanjing for the first time in the fall semester of 2023. He thinks China has a profound traditional culture worth exploring. This winter holiday, he plans to stay in Nanjing and enjoy his first vacation, such as visiting Purple Mountain and tasting various Chinese cuisines.