Wang Haolan

Holly_cn@163.com

IN celebration of the upcoming Spring Festival, residents from international communities in Shekou gathered at Jingshan Villa to grab a bite of China on Saturday.

The event was hosted by Shekou International School (SIS) under the theme “Discover China.”

The event featured Chinese performances, including lion and dragon dances, Sichuan face changing, martial arts and the like, given by art troupes from Shekou Old Street and students from international schools. Booths selling Chinese food and handicrafts were also on the scene. One of the most visited food vendors was selling Lei Cha, a traditional beverage prevailing in southern China that consists of tea mixed with ground nuts and parched rice.

An interactive zone was also set up, where children could delve deeper into Chinese culture, providing a collection of activities such as diabolo juggling, mural painting and mosaic crafting. Lill Camille, a creative art teacher at SIS, helped her students construct a puzzle of the school’s emblem with mosaic tiles. She told the Shenzhen Daily that the finished work will be displayed in one of the school’s buildings.

Another highlight of the event was the charity fair. A group of elderly residents from Haichang Community, mostly in their 60s and 70s, raised money for the needy by selling handmade pouches and ornaments. “It’s the first time that we have been invited to a community event hosted by an international school,” said Zhang Wenshu, an 85-year-old resident. “The school also sent primary students to our community to take handicraft lessons, and they made festive cards, silk fans and wire flowers for their families.”

Feasting their eyes and stomachs on Chinese culture and food, the residents hung out with their families and friends wearing festive costumes. Amanda, who teaches English as a second language to primary school students at SIS, bought a pair of red couplets for her daughter Zoe. Azra, looking cheery in his red waistcoat, said that he liked the lion dance the most. Bani Sharma, who has been a frequent attendee to the event, said that the mutton kebab and Sichuan cold noodles sold at the booths really catered to her taste. “New content has been added to this year’s event, like a small exhibition of Chinese history and geography. It’s very informative,” said Sharma.

According to Greg Smith, head of SIS, the event has greatly enhanced the mutual understanding between the local and international communities. “The event helps us create a more harmonious society, through which people can understand each other better and become more open to different cultures,” he said.