This Spring Festival, over 4,000 international students chose to stay in Shanghai, immersing themselves in the city's festive atmosphere and traditional celebrations.

They included more than 700 students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, around 600 from Tongji University, nearly 500 from East China Normal University, and over 300 from Shanghai University.

Nguyen Thi Hoai, at Shanghai Sanda University, even took on the role of tour guide for friends visiting from her home country of Vietnam.

She escorted them to popular attractions such as the Bund, Lujiazui, and Yuyuan Garden, where they savored rich New Year traditions.

A master's degree student from Uzbekistan at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics — whose Chinese name is Gao Haiyang — said that celebrating Spring Festival in Shanghai was special.

He marveled at the city's modernity and its energy and particularly enjoyed the festive atmosphere. At school, he took part in dumpling-making, a cherished Chinese New Year tradition, and found it engaging and enriching.

While some students explored the city, others spent time with their families in Shanghai. Iraida Toporkova, a Russian teacher at Shanghai International Studies University, welcomed her mother to the celebrations.

Having lived in Shanghai for a decade, she described the city as a place where history and modernity blend. This year, she embraced local customs such as writing Spring Festival couplets and making dumplings.

Whether through exploring cultural landmarks or spending time with loved ones, expats in Shanghai celebrated Spring Festival in meaningful ways.

Source: Shanghai Observer