The rhythm of the Spring Festival knows no borders. As we usher in the vibrant and auspicious Year of the Horse, SYSUers are celebrating far and wide. Let’s journey across the globe to see how SYSUers are bridging worlds and spreading joy this Chinese New Year!
Liu Keyi in Kenya
This year, my Spring Festival journey took me to Nairobi, where I am currently interning at the Xinhua News Agency Africa Regional Bureau. It was my first time celebrating the Chinese New Year so far from Guangzhou, and the distance gave me a profound new perspective on what this festival truly means to the world. The most unforgettable moment was at a local temple fair, where the familiar, thunderous rhythm of gongs and drums echoed under the vibrant Kenyan sun.
Watching local residents join in the lion dances and try their hand at calligraphy, I realized that the Spring Festival has become a global language of joy. Seeing our traditions resonate so deeply with my Kenyan friends made me feel the incredible power of cultural exchange.
Peng Xiaoyan in the United States
On Harvard University, we welcomed the Chinese New Year with a vibrant lion dance. As the rhythmic beats of gongs and drums rang out, the red-and-yellow lions head twirled and leaped through the corridors. Scrolls with blessings—Ma Dao Cheng Gong (blessing someone with immediate success) and Wan Shi Ru Yi (everything goes as you wish)—were gently unfurled, and the familiar warmth of Spring Festival filled this foreign land.
Students from all over the world stopped to watch, took photos, and learned about our festive traditions. Though far from home, our celebration may not have the same lively bustle as back home, yet it carries a unique warmth of cultural exchange. Here in this corner of the world, we celebrated a meaningful Chinese New Year in our own way.
SYSU Volunteers in South Africa
As volunteers from SYSU serving at the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Town (UCT), we celebrated a heartwarming Chinese New Year in South Africa. At the city's iconic V&A Waterfront, we hosted a cultural booth where we introduced locals to traditional customs — paper cutting, lantern making, and pasting “Fu” (福，meaning “blessings”) characters — bringing an authentic taste of the Spring Festival to a foreign shore.
Back in our dormitory, laughing as we made dumplings together, we recreated the warmth of home and our cherished holiday rituals. Although thousands of miles away, our bond with home remains strong; we are proud to keep our traditions alive and share Chinese culture and New Year greetings with the world.
PUNNITA SOMCHAICHANA in Thailand
As a Thai of Chinese descent, I have always seen the Spring Festival as the most significant bridge to my heritage. This year, returning to Thailand to reunite with my family felt particularly special. My holiday was filled with the warmth of tradition—from handcrafting sweet and savory ciba (glutinous rice cakes) with my grandmother to navigating the bustling local markets with my mother to prepare our ancestral offerings.
Walking through streets draped in vibrant red lanterns, surrounded by crowds dressed in festive crimson, I could feel the shared anticipation for the year ahead. These moments reminded me that Chinese New Year is more than just a holiday; it is a powerful bond that seamlessly weaves Thai and Chinese cultures together.
Zhao Xiwei in Spain
As an exchange student in Madrid, celebrating my first Chinese New Year away from home was surprisingly comforting. Walking through the city, the busiest streets were adorned with 'Happy New Year' greetings and Year of the Horse decorations Despite the vast ocean between us, video-calling my family to share blessings and having a hearty New Year’s Eve dinner with friends made the distance feel shorter.
This festival also provided a perfect window for cultural exchange. When I invited my Spanish friends to film a holiday greeting, they were so eager to learn 'Happy New Year' in Chinese for our video. This simple moment of language sharing created abeautiful, profound sense of global connection.
Shen Qinghua in China
This Spring Festival, I was fully immersed in the rich Hakka cultural heritage of Nanxiong through a series of breathtaking folk festivities. On Chinese New Year’s Day, the city came alive with the "Hundred Lions" parade, where the synchronized lion dances and the traditional "Dancing Spring Ox" blended ancient traditions seamlessly into the festive atmosphere, drawing thunderous applause from the crowds.
As night fell, the spectacle reached its crescendo with the "Incense Dragon" (Xianghuolong) parade. Maneuvered by over thirty men accompanied by a lively chorus of gongs, the glowing dragon surged through the darkness, shedding golden sparks like a mythical crimson dragon. The night concluded with the sacred tradition of collecting "Dragon Head Incense," as villagers took home the embers symbolizing peace and prosperity. Witnessing such vibrant, magnificent scenes was a truly soul-stirring New Year experience.
Though miles apart, our SYSU family shares the same festive heartbeat. These stories beautifully capture how the Spring Festival is no longer just a holiday at home, but a powerful bridge connecting different cultures and hearts worldwide. We are incredibly proud of our students for carrying the warmth of Chinese traditions to every corner of the globe.
Wishing our entire SYSU community—near and far—a spectacular Year of the Horse! May your new year be filled with vibrant health, galloping success, and endless joy!
