Many foreign residents chose to stayed in Suzhou and spent a special Spring Festival in the city this year. Let’s look back on their Chinese New Year holiday through several keywords!
Keywords: Chinese New Year Experience
The Foreign Affairs Office of Suzhou Industrial Park and Huxi Social Working Committee co-organized a session on Spring Festival cultural experience on February 9. 20 groups of foreign families from 11 countries participated in the event; they also enjoyedKunqu Opera performance and bamboo flute show, which are both peculiar to Suzhou.
“I’ve learned a lot about the Spring Festival -- thanks to the cultural experience day.” said Tammy who spent the Spring Festival in Suzhou for the first time.
Shimoda Hirofumi, Chairman of Kawasaki (Kunshan), celebrated the Spring Festival in China for the first time and his celebrations were quite fashionable: greeting friends with Chinese “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (hope you get rich) and “Chun Jie Kuai Le” (Happy Spring Festival), giving out red envelopes on WeChat, etc.
In addition, Shimoda also learned to make Chinese dumplings from scratch and ate them in the most traditional Chinese way.
Keywords: Warmth of Suzhou
SIP Hudong Residential Community presented foreign friends with Suzhou-style woodcut new year prints and red couplets;
Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District (SEID, also known as Suzhou Dushu Lake Higher Education Town) prepared for international students special goodie bags, which contained face masks as well as New Year snacks such as peanut candies and melon seeds;
On the very day of Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve (February 11), SEID prepared a hearty dinner for international students, organized traditional folk custom experiences and offered considerate food and package delivery services.
Keywords: Fun in Suzhou
Ten-plus foreign experts from Japan, Canada, UK, US and three other countries participated in the “Foreign Experts Experience Suzhou-style New Year Celebrations” yesterday afternoon (February 25). They visited Wuzhong Museum (吴中博物馆) and had an in-depth understanding of Suzhou’s history and culture there.
“This is my first museum tour in Suzhou. I’ve learned more about the history of China and Suzhou, which is good. I will visit more museums with my friends later.” said Kate from South Africa.
As a music lover, Kate also tries playing the guqin.
“The museum is well designed and I like the exhibitions very much. There are precious cultural relics and places to experience.” said Yasushi Abukawa, Principal of Japanese School of Suzhou.
To encourage foreign staff and students to stay put during the Spring Festival holiday, Dulwich College (Suzhou) specially compiled an illustrated travel guide for them to tour around the city and experience the lifestyle unique to Suzhou.
Foreign members of Suzhou Symphony Orchestra who come from 13 countries and regions all decided to stay put during the Spring Festival holiday. They took the opportunity to visit the landmarks in the city and feel the history and scenery across streets and alleys.
Keywords: Cloud Reunion
The Spring Festival in 2021 means something different to Ahn Sang-ho, General Manager of Samsung Electronics (Suzhou) Semiconductor. His wife was under quarantine (entry into China) during the Spring Festival so they contacted each other through video chat during the festival.
“It’s a special memory for both of us as we were reunited in a different way.” said Ahn Sang-ho and his wife.
Oshima Kazuhiro, a top executive in NSK Investment Co., Ltd., met with his daughter back in Kyoto and relatives in Gunma, Japan via video calling platforms.
Oshima sent videos where he celebrated the Spring Festival with friends in Kunshan to family membersin Japan and shared the joy of Chinese New Year with them despite the great distance between them.
Keywords: Work Resumption
Pegbio resumed business on February 18. It quickly went back to normal operation as all Pegbio staff chose to stay put during the Spring Festival holiday.
During the Spring Festival, Suzhou Industrial Parkhosted exchange sessions for foreign business people; they visited the exhibitions themed on Suzhou’s history and changes together.
“Very warm and sweet. We enjoyed the festive atmosphere and felt SIP’s concern for us.” said Michael Xu, Chairman of Pegbio.
Source: iSuzhou
