International students at East China Normal University (ECNU) celebrate the Spring Festival by guessing lantern riddles. Photo: Chen Xia/GT

At East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai,MK sport a group of international students gathered to celebrate the Spring Festival, immersing themselves in traditional Chinese customs. They wrote the Chinese character "fu," meaning fortune, kicked shuttlecocks, made paper cuttings, and enjoyed a festive reunion dinner. Laughter filled the air as they exclaimed, "The Spring Festival is so lively!"

Despite being away from home, these international students found their cultural experience broadened, feeling the warmth of Chinese traditions. The year 2025 marks the first Spring Festival since its inclusion on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization（UNESCO）Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Embracing traditional values

Lytsina Viktoryia from Belarus, who is majoring in Chinese international education, has been studying at East China Normal University (ECNU) for about a year and a half. She was excited to participate in various events organized by the school, which provided her with wonderful opportunities to immerse herself in Chinese culture.

UNESCO's recognition of the Spring Festival as an intangible cultural heritage event has enhanced its international recognition, helping more people appreciate Chinese culture and traditions, Viktoryia told the Global Times. "I believe this reflects a respect for and affirmation of Chinese culture," she said.

Roman Terentyev, a student from Kazakhstan majoring in business Chinese at ECNU, has been studying in China for about six years. He told the Global Times that he has known about the Spring Festival since childhood. "The UNESCO inscription of the Spring Festival on the intangible cultural heritage list can inspire the younger generation to pay attention to traditional values," Terentyev said.

He emphasized the importance of young people gaining a deeper understanding of traditional customs.

During the Spring Festival, the streets of Shanghai usually become less crowded as many people return home to reunite with their families. Students at ECNU participate in various activities to experience the warmth and festive atmosphere of the holiday.

Having dinner together made them feel like a family. "It was so cozy, comfortable, and friendly," Terentyev said.

Merdan Soyunov, a language student from Turkmenistan at ECNU, told the Global Times that he hopes to visit other Chinese cities to experience the Spring Festival from different perspectives.

International students at East China Normal University (ECNU) participate in a Spring Festival celebration event. Photo: Chen Xia/GT

Cross-cultural experiences

Ani Machaidze is a Georgian student pursuing a Master's degree in China studies at the International Campus, Zhejiang University in Haining, East China's Zhejiang Province.

"All my Chinese peers are very excited to be home for the holidays, mostly for the home cooked food and the 'hongbao' (red envelopes with cash inside). I got a couple 'hongbao' through WeChat, which was a novel experience. I also received many wishes to get rich this year," she said.

On the eve of the Spring Festival, the school organized an event for writing couplets and making dumplings to celebrate the festival together with international students.

Machaidze was also looking forward to a Chinese-Georgian fusion dinner with fellow Georgian students from universities across China. "I specifically look forward to consuming dumplings and tang yuan (a traditional Chinese food). Those two dishes are my personal favorites that I eat regularly on and off campus. My camera roll is full of pictures of different styles of dumplings from my travels across China," Machaidze told the Global Times.

Machaidze noted that UNESCO' inscription of the Spring Festival on the intangible cultural heritage list enhances cultural awareness. Machaidze spent half a decade working as a teacher in Georgia and has seen the growth of popularity and inclusivity of the Chinese language and festivals.

These international students shared their experiences with Chinese cuisine, particularly dumplings. They noted that their own cultures feature similar foods, although the preparation methods and flavors differ. They mentioned trying various dumpling fillings, including vegetables and meats, and found them to be very delicious.

The students' experiences in China have made them cultural ambassadors, allowing them to share their experiences with family and friends. Terentyev said that after staying in China for about six years, his family believes that he has integrated into Chinese life.

"In the future, my life will remain closely connected to China, including my career," Terentyev said.