Expats enjoy Chinese New Year celebrations in Zhejiang

Qingtian county in Zhejiang's Lishui city, renowned for its large population living and working abroad, offered a feast of traditional customs to a group of 42 foreigners on Jan 27 as part of celebrations to mark the approaching Chinese New Year.

People from different cultures experienced some of the most distinctive arts and customs from the mountainous region of southern Zhejiang, such as writing scrolls, catching fish in rice fields, waving fish-shaped lanterns and watching an evening gala.

An official from the county's publicity department explained that the activity, aiming to display Zhejiang's economy, nature and culture to foreigners, began in Yiwu, a city known as the "supermarket of the world". They visited the cities of Yiwu and Lishui, and then headed to Qingtian for the festive celebrations.

A Cambodian student from Zhejiang Gongshang University said that tired of the towering buildings in cities, she found peace in the mountains, water and air. She was amazed that the villages in China are very clean and modern with advanced road systems and technology.

"This is my first time to have a taste of Chinese New Year celebrations," said Mohamad Sawan, a professor from the Westlake University. He showed strong interest in the Chinese chess that villagers were playing during their visit to Qingtian. He took a video of the scene to remember the occasion.