“Feel warm and cared for in Shekou.” “Thank you, Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE), for the nice surprise!” These are sentiments shared by expats on social media following their participation in the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration event.
Nanshan District in Shenzhen has seen a variety of celebration activities recently. Locals and expats gathered to embrace Chinese culture and savor traditional festival tastes.
From September 15 to October 7, more than 20 activities will be held in Nantou City, Dutch Flower Town, and Zhongshan Park, including 3D mapping shows, sunset concerts, and riddle games.
“All the events are very interesting. Dutch Flower Town is very special and colorful. It's been done in a European style, so people can experience different feelings. There are also a lot of fresh and beautiful flowers, making us close to nature,” said Nataliia from Ukraine.
“I love to experience the Chinese tradition. The colorful diversity of the culture is very exciting and inspiring. Thank you for inviting me to participate in this festival, and I'm so grateful to be part of this event today,” said Mike from Georgia.
On the afternoon of September 12, the Nanshan International Cultural Exchange & Service Center (NSIC) organized for Chinese residents and expats to make mooncakes, lanterns, fans, and paper umbrellas, creating a strong festival atmosphere.
Volunteer Liu Liu taught participants to make snow-skin mooncakes. They carefully selected fillings, wrapped them in dough, and pressed them into molds, creating translucent and uniquely shaped treats. Expats were dazzled by the softness and flexibility of the mooncakes.
Then, everybody got to make lantern frames out of colored paper and bamboo strips. They even hand-painted the exterior of the lanterns! People were so excited to experience making lanterns!
In the afternoon of September 7, the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE), together with Savills Residence Daxin Shenzhen Bay, held an event with the theme of MOON to carry forward Chinese traditions as well as enhance interaction between Chinese and foreign residents, which attracted more than 70 people from 23 countries.
Guo Meng, a local folk artist, taught everyone how to skillfully carve out paper-cut works with a carving knife. Expats decorated the fans with their Mid-Autumn-themed paper-cutting.
Sugar painting also attracted much attention. Foreign friends were shocked to see the cute rabbits, perky dragons, and amazing Monkey Kings. It's not only a kind of Chinese delicacy, but a mix of Chinese traditions, folk arts, and innovations.
“I was planning to share the event with my students in class. And deep thanks to Shekou MSCE; they are always helpful, and with their help, I got my Chinese driving license just now. It's wonderful!” American Joanne Dietz said.
On September 15, over a hundred international students from Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, gathered together to celebrate the festival. The Honghualing Community arranged traditional games and handcrafts, such as wearing Hanfu, making mooncakes, and crafting lanterns, which thoroughly immersed the students in Chinese culture.
“This is such a good activity. I came to know a lot of things about the Mid-Autumn Festival. What I liked the most was trying on Chinese clothes. I find them so beautiful,” said Amina from Pakistan.
What's more, Shenzhen Nanshan Southwind Social Work Service Center also extended festive greetings and delicious mooncakes to 80 foreign residents from 37 countries within its community, including international volunteers, principals of international schools, representatives of foreign chambers of commerce and foreign-invested companies, and international students. The foreign residents were very grateful for the blessings from Nanshan District.
Photos | NSIC, Shekou MSCE, the Honghualing Community
Editor | Zhang Xinyue, Will, James
NSIC, Shekou MSCE also contributed to the article
