Chongqing - As the Year of the Horse begins, foreigners in Chongqing are celebrating the Spring Festival as active participants, joining traditions such as giving red packets, making dumplings and attending Hanfu banquets, in a shared display of cultural exchange.

Rehmat, a Pakistani student studying in the city, experienced for the first time the custom of giving red packet, or "hongbao". What initially seemed like a simple gesture of handing out lucky money soon revealed a deeper layer of family etiquette. From observing seniority in distribution, to carefully choosing auspicious amounts and avoiding the number four, Rehmat learned that red packet carries symbolic weight. Beyond the cash inside, he said, it represents reunion, blessings and the continuity of family values.

For Elvira, an English teacher from the Philippines who works in Chongqing and helps newly arrived Filipinos adapt to life in the city, this year’s Spring Festival brought a different kind of first. Together with her family, she stepped into the kitchen of her Chinese relatives to make dumplings — rolling wrappers, preparing fillings and boiling them side by side. The shapes were not always perfect, but as they gathered around the table, she said the warmth of the moment made it feel like home. For her, the act of cooking and sharing dumplings captured the spirit of the Chinese New Year.

Malaysian vlogger Aereon Wong, who arrived in Chongqing just over two months ago, chose to explore the festival through traditional aesthetics. He tried on Hanfu, the flowing attire inspired by ancient Chinese dress, and attended a palace-style banquet featuring classical rituals and cuisine. Dressed in elaborate garments and surrounded by festive decoration, he described the experience as visually striking and culturally immersive — a way to better understand the depth of Chinese heritage during the holiday season.

Their experiences reflect a broader online conversation around “Becoming Chinese,” a phrase increasingly used on social media to describe foreigners embracing elements of Chinese culture in daily life. 

In Chongqing, a city known for its vibrant urban energy and strong sense of community, the Spring Festival has once again become a bridge — bringing together people from different backgrounds through shared traditions, family gatherings and festive joy.