Expats' Spring Festival memories

The Spring Festival is synonymous with family reunions, lively celebrations and good wishes for the new year. As the eight-day Spring Festival holiday draws to a close, do you feel a sense of reluctance to say goodbye and wish it could last longer? Expatriates share this sentiment, so they have been capturing their holiday memories in videos and photos. They hope to share these joyful moments with you all, extending the spirit of the season beyond its traditional timeframe.

A Japanese's Spring Festival photowalk

Video and photos by Tsuruta Masayuki

An iron "fireworks" performance is staged at OH Bay in Bao'an District during the Spring Festival holiday. The skill is a national intangible cultural heritage originated from Central and North China, where performers splash molten iron with a temperature over 1,600 Celsius degree to create various shapes of sparks, forming beautiful patterns or images as the sparks scatter.

The MixC Shenzhen Bay in Nanshan District is adorned with Chinese dragon and lantern decorations.

Citizens appreciate a Chinese New Year-themed light show at Talent Park in Nanshan District.

Chinese New Year-themed art installations and festive flowers are seen at Dutch Flower Town in Nanshan District.

Brazilian couple enjoy Spring Festival holiday

Video and photos by Felipe Vieira Setlik

Christine Bubeck from Brazil, who is Setlik's wife, appreciates the laterns at OCT Harbour in Nanshan District on Feb. 10.

The couple take a selfie while watching a festive parade in Futian District on Wednesday.

Bubeck poses for photos with a Chinese New Year-themed creative exhibition at the G&G Creative Community in Shekou, Nanshan District on Feb. 9.

Citizens take an interest in smart wearables on display in a DJI store at OCT Harbour in Nanshan District on Feb. 10. 

Spreading the joy of Chinese New Year in India

Dipti Shivajirao Mali from India poses for photos holding a Chinese knot decoration and red packets in India on Tuesday. Photos by Smita Mayekar

Jay's Spring Festival gallery

Visitors leave messages of joy, prosperity and good will for the Year of the Dragon on the wall of a temple in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on Feb. 7. Photos by Jason Illidge from the U.K.

A girl poses for her family of happy snappers at Nantou Ancient Town in Nanshan District on Tuesday.

A young lady poses for a photo amongst Spring Festival couplets at Nantou Ancient Town in Nanshan District on Tuesday.

A foreign visitor takes pictures of Spring Festival decorations at Nantou Ancient Town in Nanshan District on Tuesday.

A boy is mesmerized by the flickering light radiating from his sparklers in Shuiwei, Futian District on Monday.

A boy plays with a festive installation at Nantou Ancient Town in Nanshan District on Tuesday.

A young woman gives a festive gift to the photographer in a small shop at Nantou Ancient Town in Nanshan District on Tuesday.

A man snaps a quick photo of the installation at the entrance to the Shenzhen Spring Festival Flower Fair near One Avenue in Futian District on Monday.

Indian woman's views on flower market in SZ

Visiting a flower market in Shenzhen can be very appealing to a foreigner because of its cultural richness. Personally, I love flowers. I always have fresh flowers at home and during festivals, it is a must for me to buy them.

The market provided me a glimpse into local traditions and offered a unique experience with a wide range of flowers, plants and gardening supplies. It was an opportunity to explore the horticultural side of the city, to interact with the locals and to find distinctive flowers that are not commonly seen in other regions.

As for my opinion of the flower market, I love it and it was so beautiful, and many people appreciated the Shenzhen flower fair for its lively atmosphere, the variety of flora and the chance to immerse themselves in local culture. It could be a visually pleasing and fragrant carnival, adding a touch of natural beauty to the urban landscape.

By Priyasha Sharma from India

Chinese New Year in Guangzhou

The Beijing Road Pedestrian Street in Guangzhou is a popular tourist attraction during the Spring Festival Holiday. Photos by Iuri Tarasenco from The Republic of Moldova

Streets in Guangzhou are adorned with red lanterns during the Spring Festival holiday.

The ground is strewn with the firecracker debris in a valley in Guangzhou on Tuesday.

People burn incense to worship the deities in a temple in Guangzhou on Feb. 9.

My Spring Festival vlog

Video by Sarah from Iran

Dual dragons

Johann van der Walt from South Africa was fortunate enough to capture the dragon lantern installation and the dragon-themed drone show simultaneously while purchasing festive flowers at the flower market on Aiguo Road, Luohu District.

Make a wish, watch a parade!

A girl writes down her new year wishes and burns incense to welcoming fortune at Fengyan Ancient Temple in Bao'an District on Feb. 6. Photos by Irina Bogodukhova from Russia

Shots of a Chinese New Year parade at Lee Tung Avenue, Hong Kong on Monday.

Celebrate with my family

A photo of Matteo Convertino's younger son and dragon plush toys taken Feb. 10. Photos by Matteo Convertino from Italy

A selfie of Convertino and his two sons taken in a restaurant Feb. 10.

Cycling to welcome CNY

Simon Bezian from Canada cycled along a dragon-shaped route Tuesday to mark the Chinese New Year.