Expats show off their Fu posters, a New Year decoration representing a lucky and prosperous New Year. [Photo/wzrb.com.cn]
Ergashev Akmal, a Tajikistani student at Wenzhou Medical University, recently celebrated the New Year with his friends in Shangen, an old overseas Chinese village in Ouhai district, Wenzhou.
Though it was renovated into a modern recreational destination with various niche stores, Shangen village has mostly preserved its history, housing seven buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), four buildings from the Republic of China era (1912-49), and 120 buildings from the 1960s to 1980s.
"I have never seen this kind of architecture in my county. This is authentic Chinese," said Akmal after seeing a traditional courtyard with white walls, black tiles, and cornices.
Akmal and his friends were also attracted by the village’s niche stores as many of them taught them more about traditional Chinese culture, including tea brewing, inkstone making, indigo printing, handmade leatherware, and traditional Chinese costumes.
"Do I look like a kung fu master in this outfit?" asked Williams Abigail Maria, a student from Jamaica, when trying on a new Chinese-style gown.
The students said they were happy to celebrate the New Year in this unique way – learning about traditional Chinese culture and enjoying natural landscapes.
"There are mountains, rivers, and a rich culture. We all love this place," the students said.
