International students from Zhejiang Ocean University spent a pleasant Spring Festival holiday by tasting traditional food and watching folk performances in Zhoushan, an island city in East China's Zhejiang province.

A group of 25 students who chose to stay in Zhoushan for Chinese New Year were invited to local families to experience the joyful atmosphere of the most important festival in China.

They tried their hands at making jiaozi, or dumplings under the guidance of local people. Some of them even shot videos and sent them to their families and friends afar.

Zhejiang Ocean University prepared a traditional New Year's Eve dinner with distinctive dishes for these students to make them feel at home during the most festive occasion of a year.

Zhoushan archipelago, with profound fishing culture, abounds in colorful folk songs and dances regarding fishery such as the fishermen's work songs in Zhoushan dialect. A student from Ukraine said she was impressed by the special costumes and strong voices of the songs after watching a show of local performances.

To express their delight, a woman from Cambodia whose Chinese name is Zhuang Meiguang performed a type of Southeast Asian dance called Romvong with her friends, adding to the fun of the show.

During the Spring Festival holiday, students partnered with each other and went sightseeing at scenic areas in Zhoushan including Mount Putuo and Zhujiajian resort. Through the in-depth visits to the city, they got more knowledge about Zhoushan's history and culture.

"I didn't expect so many interesting activities for my Chinese New Year," said Kristina from Russia.

International students watch a show of Chinese traditional performances in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]