Expats in Ningbo, Zhejiang province try their hands at embroidery on Jan 20. [Photo by Zhou Jianping/Ningbo Daily]

More than 50 foreign expats from over 40 countries and regions gathered at Ningbo Community College in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Jan 20 to celebrate the approaching Chinese New Year.

Participants tried their hands at many different Chinese traditional folk arts, including writing couplets, paper-cutting, and painting red peonies, and got an authentic taste of the most important festival in China.

Writing Spring Festival couplets and drawing red peonies were the activity's two main highlights. Jiang Hongsheng, director of the college's Red Peony art society, aroused expats' interest in Chinese painting by teaching them the traditional way of painting peonies within just two hours. Zheng Guojun, founder of a special form of tai chi with distinct local characteristics, showed participants the allure of Chinese martial arts.

A student from Kyrgyzstan, whose Chinese name is Xie Yi, praised the cultural event, saying "We had a really wonderful time here and the harmonious atmosphere made us feel right at home."

Chen Shu, vice president of Ningbo Community College, said he hopes more foreigners can experience and promote Chinese culture through activities such as this.

Participants at the cultural event hosted by Ningbo Community College show off their peony paintings. [Photo/nbtv.cn]