Hey there! Have you ever wondered how people celebrate the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, in China? Let’s take a fun journey to discover the exciting traditions and adventures in three amazing Chinese cities: Guilin, Guangzhou, and Beijing! 🎉🧧
Sounds of Happiness in Guilin 🏞️
First stop, Guilin! Known for its stunning mountains and rivers, Guilin looks like a scene from a fairy tale. Our friend Wendyl moved to China in 2023 and experienced his first Spring Festival here. He learned to say “Xin nian kuai le,” which means “Happy New Year!” Everywhere he went, from friendly villagers in the hills to bustling markets selling sweet rice cakes, people greeted him with smiles and warm wishes.
Wendyl joined his friends to make colorful dumplings, a fun twist on the traditional white ones. They watched the Spring Festival Gala on TV, a big variety show filled with music and dancing. Wearing a bright red holiday hat (red is a lucky color!), Wendyl felt the joy of the festival. He’s excited to make more dumplings next year and wishes everyone “Yi si nian kuai le”—”Happy Year of the Snake!” 🐍
A Taste of Luck in Guangzhou 🥟
Next, let’s visit Guangzhou, one of China’s oldest cities famous for yummy food! Lucy explored a traditional teahouse where she tried dim sum—small dishes like dumplings and buns served in bamboo baskets. She tasted har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (dumplings with pork, shrimp, and mushrooms). Delicious!
Lucy discovered that the foods have special meanings. Shrimp sounds like the word for laughter and happiness in the local language, so eating shrimp dumplings brings joy and good fortune. Fish sounds like the word for abundance, meaning plenty of good things to come! Sharing these tasty treats made Lucy feel the warmth and togetherness that’s so important during the Spring Festival. 🍤🐟
A Touch of Tradition in Beijing 🐉
Our final stop is Beijing, the bustling capital city! Rachel visited the Ditan Temple Fair, a lively place filled with lion dancers leaping to the beat of drums. Families watched performances and offered prayers for a happy new year. Rachel’s favorite part was trying street foods like sweet tanghulu (candied fruit on a stick) and savory lamb skewers called chuan’r. Yum! 🍡
She also went to Shichahai Lake, which freezes in winter and becomes a giant playground! Rachel rode an ice cycle—a bicycle on ice—and saw people ice skating. Some young people wore traditional Chinese outfits called hanfu, adding a touch of history to the fun. It was an unforgettable experience! ⛸️
Join the Celebration! 🎊
The Spring Festival is all about family, friends, and exciting traditions. Whether it’s making colorful dumplings in Guilin, enjoying delicious dim sum in Guangzhou, or joining festive fairs in Beijing, there’s so much to explore. Someday, you might get to experience these wonderful celebrations yourself! Until then, Xin nian kuai le—Happy New Year! 🧨🎆
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
