International couples come to celebrate festival in Chongqing

Six international couples from China, the United States, India, Greece and Lebanon took part in a themed activity in Chongqing's Rongchang district on the traditional Lantern Festival, which falls on Saturday this year.

The group took part in a many activities, such as making sweet glutinous rice balls known as "yuanxiao," solving riddles, and making lanterns dressed in hanfu, which is traditional Chinese-style clothing.

"It is my second visit here," said 44-year-old Georgios Marketakis from Greece. "The atmosphere here is very nice, and I like everything I see."

"There are so many glorious folk cultures in China that need to be promoted," said Marketakis's wife, Chen Linxia, 38, a local resident. The couple said they had enjoyed another unforgettable traditional festival in Rongchang.

In another folk experience, Marketakis made a wall hanging by plant dyeing and drawing on a piece of Rongchang xiabu, a traditional handmade textile made of local ramie. The weaving techniques, which were listed as a national cultural intangible heritage in 2008.

Their handwork was coached by 32-year-old local Tang Yi and her husband, Ivan Andrew Chen, 35, who is from India. The couple is now settling in Rongchang to spread the xiabu culture.

The festival representing family union and celebration had also attracted a tremendous amount of local families and tourists in Grass Linen Town and People's Square in Rongchang. A series of traditional cultural activities, including a hanfu parade and a fire dragon dance show, were staged.

A historical city in the southwestern municipality, Rongchang claims three national cultural intangible heritages including Rongchang xiabu, Rongchang pottery and Rongchang folding fan products.