By Zhang Jian and Yang Zhenxiao

  On 12th February, more than 10 foreign friends from Bangladesh and Ethiopia, teachers and students from the Second Primary School Affiliated to Nantong Normal School, and opera and drama fans in Nantong gathered together to celebrate the Lantern Festival, and experience the festive atmosphere in the process of guessing lantern riddles, appreciating intangible cultural heritages, learning Beijing Opera and making lanterns. 

  During the event, Wei Hongyu, the successor of Mei School Peking Opera, taught foreign friends how to do Peking Opera movements, facial makeup, etc., allowing them to experience the charm of the national treasure, Peking Opera. 

  Zhao Yuan from Ethiopia is an international exchange student in Nantong University. He said, ‘this is my first time to participate in the Lantern Festival in China. I feel very excited. I learnt a lot about the Lantern Festival customs, and want to share with my family and friends in hometown through my mobile phone.’