Int'l residents welcome the Year of the Horse at Xiaoying Park Fair

Blindfolded and trying to stay inside a circle without stepping out--“Horse on the Run”; carefully maneuvering chopsticks to pick up slippery golden ingots; raising a small hammer to crack open the first stroke of luck for 2026… A New Year fair tucked away in an old neighborhood brought international students a true taste of “home”

On the afternoon of February 10, the “Colorful Wuhejia Happy Neighborhood Hub” at No. 66 Changguan Lane in Xiaoying Subdistrict buzzed with a mix of Chinese, English, and laughter. Co-hosted by the Xiaoying Subdistrict Party Working Committee and Subdistrict Office, and organized by Grandma Ma’s Social Work Studio, the “Horse-Riding New Year” fair welcomed five special “family members”--international students at Hangzhou Dianzi University from Uzbekistan and Morocco). For all of them, it was a first-ever experience of a traditional Chinese New Year fair. What they witnessed was a heartfelt connection that crossed both age and borders.
Here is a video shot from the perspective of Aqeel Fiaz, a Pakistani international student at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. As one of the “Hangzhou Seekers” experienced in videography, Aqeel has kicked off with this work the first chapter of his video series on the Chinese New Year.

“Everyone was so welcoming—it was incredibly lively!” As soon as Asadulloh Zakriddinov stepped inside, he was captivated by the festive red decorations. At the “Instant Wealth” game booth, he carefully tried to pick up faux gold ingots with chopsticks. “It’s much harder than it looks! But it really feels like you’re bringing fortune home.”

Seven game stations were all themed around the Year of the Horse: “Horse on the Run” tested blindfolded balance, while “Galloping Horse” was a mini horse-racing challenge. Each completed game earned a unique stamp on a collectible card, which could be redeemed for Spring Festival couplets, Fu characters, or festive ornaments.

“What touched me most was seeing so many grandparents happily joining the games,” said fellow Uzbek student Javokhir Khamzaev. “They weren’t just watching from the sidelines--they were fully participating and laughing, helping create that New Year vibe--not just for themselves, but for us younger people too.”
He smiled as he added, “It reminded me of celebrating holidays back home, when the whole family gathers in one room, sings, plays games, and chats around the dinner table.”
For Abduvali Tashpulatov, the most memorable game was “Horse on the Run”. “I had to stay inside a circle blindfolded and march in place for a whole minute without stepping out. It was the hardest challenge for me, but also the most fun--it really took focus and self-control.”

The highlight of the day came during the “Golden Egg Smash”. Shakhzod Mirzaev was lucky enough to crack open his own golden egg and won a special prize. “But even more precious than the prize was the joyful atmosphere and the warmth of the locals,” he said.

Though this wasn’t Shakhzod’s first time celebrating Chinese New Year, it was his first time taking part in such a traditional neighborhood fair. “Writing calligraphy with people of all ages, picking up ‘gold ingots’ with chopsticks, choosing my zodiac horse and predicting luck for the year ahead… Everyone was completely absorbed, and laughter filled the air.

He observed thoughtfully: “In Uzbekistan, New Year is also about family and community. We gather with loved ones, forgive one another, set new goals, and start the year with positive energy. Both our cultures cherish reunion, respect for elders, and hopes for a prosperous new year.”

The event also featured a Fu-character writing corner and a family photo booth. Several students picked up brushes, ground ink, and carefully—if not yet expertly—painted the character “Fu” on red paper. They then posed for photos with volunteers and residents in front of couplet-decorated backdrops. In that moment, the shutter didn’t just capture a photo--it froze a memory of cross-cultural, intergenerational, and borderless reunion.
“At Colorful Wuhejia, there are no strangers--only family we haven’t yet reunited with.” What read like a slogan at the event was, in truth, a warmth that flowed freely through the room.

As the fair drew to a close, the international students traded their stamp-filled cards for souvenirs--paper cuttings, little horse plushies, Chinese knots, and more.

For these students, the fair wasn’t just a hands-on introduction to the warmth of a Chinese New Year--it also turned the community into a true “home without walls”. “I never imagined celebrating such an unforgettable New Year in Hangzhou,” said Kaouthar Bouftah, clutching her newly won toy horse. In freshly learned Mandarin, she added: “Xīnnián kuàilè, mǎshàng yǒu fú! (Happy New Year, may fortune come right away!)
Asadulloh offered his blessings: “I wish everyone good health, happiness, and success in the new year. And I hope to keep learning about different cultures and traditions.” Javokhir shared a simple, heartfelt wish: “May everyone reading this have luck by their side, joy overflowing, and their most cherished dreams come true.” Shakhzod’s reflection ran even deeper: “For myself, I want to say: keep building bridges between cultures, stay curious, and never stop learning. Every celebration like this reminds me why cultural exchange is so meaningful.”
When “foreign faces” merge into the “Chinese red,” cultural encounter gives way not to barriers--but to understanding and empathy, born through games, smiles, and shared blessings.

Journalist: Liu Yimei
Editor: Fang Jingyi
Senior editor: Zhou Ji, Li Zheng
Source: Hangzhoufeel