Expats join locals celebrating Lantern Festival in Suzhou

To celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lantern Festival which falls on February 12 this year, the "Lantern Festival Thematic Activities" event, co-hosted by Suzhou Tourist Information Center and Suzhou International Cultural Exchange Center, was held yesterday at the former residence of Shen Deqian, a prominent local figure about 300 years ago. Guests from China, Pakistan, Morocco, Germany, Canada, the United States, and Colombia attended the event. They savored folk music, made lanterns, ate tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), and guessed lantern riddles, soaking up the strong festive vibe.

The event started after the host introduced the origin, tales, and customs of the Lantern Festival. Erhu (a two-stringed Chinese musical instrument) performances of "Jasmine Flower" and "Zizhu Diao," guzheng (Chinese plucked zither) performance of "Blooming Flowers and Full Moon," and a medley of Spring Festival-themed songs manifested melodious tunes and the charm of traditional Chinese folk music. Bernd, hailing from Germany, tried his hand at playing erhu under the guidance. "Traditional Chinese musical instruments sound nice and soothing," he said.

As the event unfolded, they tasted tangyuan and snacks, participated in games such as guessing lantern riddles, and felt the interesting culture of the festival amid laughter. The lantern-making tradition is one of the celebrations with a strong sense of ritual. At the event, they had hands-on experience in crafting the lanterns related to the Year of the Snake and the festival, immersing themselves in the joy of handcrafting and gaining deep insight into the reunion and joyous meaning behind the lanterns.

"Today's event was truly unforgettable! I had an amazing time learning about the history and significance of the Lantern Festival and enjoying the various activities and performances. The traditional Chinese music performances were mesmerizing and added to the festive atmosphere. I also loved making my own lantern," said Haseeb Ur Rehman from Pakistan.

Natalie from Canada also gave a thumbs-up to the event, saying, "today's amazing event has offered us a lot, with music and delicious food on offer."

(From: inJiangsu)