A unique Spring Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) experience event was held on January 31 at Huafa Community for international talents working in Zhuhai. The event brought together a diverse group of over 50 international professionals and their families from countries and regions including Russia, Italy, France, and the USA.
Participants created paper-cutting window flowers, made traditional New Year prints, wrote Spring Festival couplets, and wove Chinese knots—immersing themselves in the charm of China's ICH and feeling the warmth of the Chinese New Year.
For this event, Chen Haorong, a local paper-cutting inheritor, specially designed themed patterns such as "a magpie perched on a branch" (meaning visible joy and good news arriving), "auspicious stars shining" and "horse bringing fortune"—all carrying the meaning of welcoming the new year and attracting good fortune, corresponding to the upcoming Year of the Horse.
At first, participants were unfamiliar with the technique. Later, Monika from Germany meticulously carved the pattern of her horse, while Sana from the USA carefully refined the outline of her magpie. When they finally unfolded their creations and saw the exquisite designs come to life on paper, the room filled with gasps of delighted admiration.
Beyond paper-cutting, the event also offered multiple cultural activities. In the traditional ink rubbing area, participants rubbed characters such as "福" (fortune), "春" (spring), and traditional New Year picture designs onto red paper, blending the scent of ink with New Year's blessings.
At the Chinese knot-making table, red cords passed through their fingers as they wove simple tokens of peace and good fortune. In the spring couplets writing area, members of the Huaxin Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Club of Huafa Community were invited to brush elegant couplets and share Spring Festival wishes. Guided by the instructors, many participants carefully held brushes, writing "福" characters and their own couplets—experiencing the art of calligraphy while expressing hopes for the year ahead.
The event was hosted by the Zhuhai Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, Zhuhai Foreign Affairs Office, and Xiangzhou District Nanping Town Party Committee & Nanping Town People's Government.
Author: Jiang Xinchen
Photo: Huafa Community
