On Jan 30, the day before Chinese New Year’s Eve, Qiaoyuan Neighborhood Center of Huaqiao University (HQU) was decorated with lanterns and Chinese paper-cut, brimming with strong festive atmosphere. Nearly 100 students from Turkmenistan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan were having fun with traditional Chinese Lunar New Year crafts and activities for a happy and prosperous new year.

In the afternoon, Vice President Wang Xiuyong paid a special visit to the students spending the Spring Festival holiday on campus. At the center, students had a great time with some interesting Lunar New Year activities and games, including making Jiaozi (Chinese dumplings) and Nian Gao (Chinese New Year cake), solving lantern riddles, paper cutting for window decoration and writing Spring Festival Couplets. They not only felt the care and warmth of the school but also learnt about artistic charms of Chinese traditional culture.

Some international students even shared the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year with their families via video calling.

In addition, HQU Center for Student Community Management and Service also prepared red envelopes, USB flash drives and other gifts for the students who solved the lantern riddles. The heads of the center said that this event was designed to replicate a home-like atmosphere for the students on campus. They hoped that in the celebration of the holiday, the international students could enjoy the Chinese Spring Festival culture and food, and spread the excellent traditional Chinese culture to the world.

Students Writing Spring Festival Couplets

Paper Cutting for Window Decoration

Enjoy Chinese Dumplings

Taking Photos in Cheers

(Editor: Cai Juntao)