This year’s Spring Festival, ushering in the Year of the Snake, is the first to be celebrated since it was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

To commemorate this global recognition, a special event was held on Jan. 24 at Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School (PKXYS) in Longhua District. The event brought together over 400 Chinese and international friends to explore Chinese intangible cultural heritage and enjoy a unique and memorable Spring Festival experience.

Expats pose for a group photo at a Spring Festival celebration event at Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School (PKXYS) in Longhua District on Jan. 24. Wang Haolan

The celebration featured a vibrant fair offering traditional local snacks such as cotton candy, glutinous rice balls, and rice pudding, as well as Hong Kong and Macao specialties like egg tarts and egg waffles. Additionally, traditional intangible cultural heritage booths and interactive games offered participants the chance to learn about and even try their hand at Chinese cultural crafts, such as printmaking and Hakka bamboo hat weaving.

The Longhua International Cooperation Center (LICC) had a booth that showcased its range of services, which are designed to assist expats in settling into and engaging with the local community.

Expats experience woodblock printing at the event.

At the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) booth, a long line of expats were eager to try Ai Jiu, known as moxibustion in English. This ancient therapy uses moxa, which is made from dried Chinese mugwort leaves, to stimulate specific acupuncture points or areas of the body. It is believed to promote healing, improve circulation, and restore balance to the body’s energy.

Cameroonian Mary Justin Bilongo, a postgraduate student at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, shared, “This is my first time trying Ai Jiu. I feel good afterward and think it helps relieve the strain in my back.”

Messages of blessings are seen hanging near the entrance of the event.

Food also played a significant role in connecting people from diverse backgrounds. Haris Memic, a self-proclaimed foodie from Montenegro, was delighted to try new dishes.

“I came here today to experience Chinese culture and see something new. Events like this are great for helping foreigners understand Chinese culture, food, and traditions. When you come here and see how everything is so nice and unexpected, it really promotes Chinese culture and helps foreigners learn more about it,” Memic said.

Jose Antonio Vigara, from Spain, also expressing his appreciation, shared, “I think these kinds of activities are very interesting for foreigners like me because we can always learn new things about China’s intangible heritage and culture.”

An expatriate resident is invited to experience Chinese-style acrobatics at the evening gala of the event.

Before the event began, Zhang Qizhen, a senior high school student at PKXYS, introduced the foreigners to Spring Festival couplets, which is an essential part of Chinese New Year celebrations that symbolize hopes and blessings for the coming year.

Beyond traditional elements, advanced technologies added a modern twist to the event. Drones and 3D equipment were used in performances and displays, breathing new life into the celebration. Also featured was a display area showcasing cutting-edge technologies and devices.

Haris Memic, a vlogger from Montenegro and a Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassador, deliver a speech at the evening gala.

The celebration reached its climax as Chinese locals and expats gathered around dinner tables to enjoy a gala featuring a variety of performances, including singing, dancing, magic shows, and traditional acrobatics.

Cao Saixian, director general of the Shenzhen Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, extended greetings to friends from both China and abroad in her speech during the gala. She mentioned that the event not only showcased Shenzhen’s seamless integration between traditional culture and modern technology but also allowed everyone to experience the city’s vibrant life and enduring memories of cultural heritage.