On January 29th, China officially ushered in the Year of the Snake, and the international students at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) welcomed a special festival—the first "ICH (Intangible Cultural Heritage) version" of the Spring Festival. On December 4th, 2024, UNESCO officially inscribed "the Spring Festival—social practices of Chinese people celebrating the traditional New Year" on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This means that this year's Spring Festival is not only a traditional Chinese festival but also a traditional cultural festival with a rich cultural heritage in an international perspective.
Let's take a look at how the international students at SUFE spent this "unique" Spring Festival.
International Students' New Year's Eve Dinner:
Students from over 20 countries, including Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Indonesia, Venezuela, and Ghana, joined the Spring Festival dinner for students staying on campus, celebrating the Chinese New Year together with Chinese students. The university also prepared a New Spring Festival gift package for the students staying on campus, allowing them to feel the warmth of the Spring Festival far from home.
Personal Experiences
Wen Naya from South Africa:
This year, during the Spring Festival, Wen Naya personally wove a bamboo lantern for blessings at the New Year's Eve dinner. She said, "The Spring Festival is a time for Chinese families to reunite. People will walk around with their relatives and friends.
Li Xiaolong (Fedor Gorkavyy) from Russia:
Li Xiaolong spent the Chinese New Year in Shijiazhuang, China, with his best friend Erte and his family. It was truly an unforgettable experience. "On New Year's Eve, they prepared a sumptuous dinner, featuring classic Chinese dishes like dumplings and rice cakes, as well as local specialties from Hebei. The food was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the dumplings made by his mother—thin-skinned, large-filled, and rich in flavor, filled with warmth." On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Erte took Li Xiaolong to experience traditional Spring Festival customs. They visited relatives, paid New Year's visits, and gave red envelopes. "As a foreigner in China, this was my first time celebrating this traditional festival with a local family. It deepened my understanding of the warmth and richness of Chinese culture."
Liu Huaqiu(Gleb Riabinin) from Russia:
Liu Huaqiu experienced the Chinese New Year in Harbin, known as the "Ice and Snow Paradise." He had an unforgettable experience at the Ice and Snow World. "This year, I chose to stay in China for an amazing Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival. To be honest, it was really fantastic! During the Lantern Festival lunch, I was simply amazed by the table full of Chinese dishes. The most unforgettable thing was the authentic guobaorou I tasted in Harbin. The crispy outer skin and tender, juicy meat inside were a real feast for the taste buds!" Although he couldn't go home to be with his family, the Lantern Festival he spent in China made him feel a different kind of warmth and joy. He said, "The people here are friendly and warm, and with the thick holiday atmosphere makes me feel like I'm a part of this big family."
Zhen Zhu (Namjilmaa Purevdorj) from Mongolia:
Zhen Zhu spent the Chinese New Year traveling, experiencing the unique Spring Festival features of different regions. Along the way, she witnessed the reunions of countless families. Her last stop coincided with the Lantern Festival, and she returned to Shanghai. At that moment, she felt lonely. "I suddenly understood the great significance of these festivals for the reunions of thousands of families and for warming people's hearts." So, in the dormitory, she and several Chinese friends gathered in the hall. They made lanterns with the dormitory aunt, decorated the hall, and bought tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) to eat. She said, "The memory of making lanterns and eating tangyuan with friends that night is very special to me."
Saw Thet Su Win from Myanmar:
Saw Thet Su Win went to Taicang with friends to experience traditional Chinese culture in the ancient town. They strolled along the ancient streets, tasted delicious food, and admired the tranquil canals. At the Alps Park, they joined the fireworks festival and experienced an amazing visual feast. "This was our first time witnessing such a spectacular fireworks display. It was a magical experience." In addition, they were invited to a local family's home. "They prepared a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner for us, including traditional dishes like dumplings, fish, and rice cakes. We made dumplings together, watched the Spring Festival Gala, and exchanged red envelopes (lucky money). The warmth of the family and the atmosphere of reunion deeply moved us. It reminded us of the universal values of love, gratitude, and unity that the Spring Festival represents. The Spring Festival not only brought us closer to Chinese culture but also strengthened our affection for this country, which we call our 'second home'."
Lantern Festival Street Parade
Ten international students from countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan participated in the 20th "Lantern Festival Street Parade" in Yangpu District in 2025. They experienced unique Lantern Festival folk activities. The event featured numerous ICH projects like sugar painting, dough modeling, paper cutting, crochet, and jade carving, as well as captivating folk performances. Notably, the SUFE international students also performed in the event: a version of "Two Tigers" in five different languages, which received unanimous praise from the audience.
The international students' Chinese New Year came to an end with the bustling Lantern Festival. As the winter vacation drew to a close, the students gained a lot from their first ICH version of the Spring Festival. May the New Year wishes they made come true one by one, and may the new year be smooth, healthy, and "si si" (snake year) as desired!
