【Hi, Shandong】Songs Deliver Blessings and Friendship During the Lantern Festival: Dongying Spring Festival Folk Culture Exchange Event Held at a South Korean University

On February 26, the “Lantern Festival Blooms in Seoul” segment of the “Enjoy the Chinese Festival” cultural series was held at a university in South Korea. The event targeted South Korean university students and artists, facilitating exchanges of Dongying culture and Chinese folk customs through Sino-Korean artistic dialogue.

South Korean college students and artists sing classic Chinese songs together

Photo by Li Hao

During the event, South Korean college students in the choir performed several classic Chinese songs, building a cultural bridge between China and South Korea through song. Following this, a cultural promotion event and creative product exhibition for Dongying City were held simultaneously. The exhibition incorporated auspicious folk elements such as the Chinese character “Fu” (meaning good fortune) and motifs symbolizing “bamboo bringing peace.” Creative products themed on The Art of War, ecological and cultural products from the Yellow River estuary, and Dongying intangible cultural heritage products were all displayed. These exhibits blended Dongying’s history and culture, Yellow River ecological features, and Lantern Festival customs, attracting South Korean visitors to stop and appreciate them.

The event’s on-site setup was thoughtfully designed. During the lantern riddle guessing activity, Dongying elements such as The Art of War and the ecology of the Yellow River estuary were incorporated into the riddles, allowing Korean participants to deepen their understanding of Dongying culture and Chinese Lantern Festival customs through an engaging experience.

South Korean university students guess lantern riddles, a traditional Lantern Festival activity

Photo by Li Hao

South Korean university students hold lanterns and send sincere Lantern Festival greetings

Photo by Li Hao

Since the launch of Dongying’s Lantern Festival exchange activities in South Korea, the city has held a number of cultural exchange events in Seoul and Incheon. With the Lantern Festival as a bond, these activities have enabled fine traditional Chinese culture to reach across borders, making Dongying’s ecological beauty and cultural charm better known to more people in South Korea.