On Jan. 25, Opportunities in China, Encountering Dongying｜ "Enjoying Spring Festival Customs, Writing New Year Wishes" Spring Festival Cultural Exchange Event was held in Yangju City, South Korea. The event was sponsored by the Information Office of Dongying Municipal People's Government.

　　During the Spring Festival, posting spring couplets and writing "Fu" (a Chinese character with the meaning of blessings and good fortune) are two important customs, reflecting people's wishes for the new year. The spring couplets and Chinese characters "Fu" handwritten by Dongying calligraphers were displayed at this event, allowing foreign friends to feel the festive vibe of the Chinese New Year.

　　The Guangrao Qi writing brush, an intangible cultural heritage of Dongying, was also displayed on site. During the event, Yangju citizens experienced writing the Chinese character "Fu" with Guangrao Qi writing brushes, feeling the charm of traditional Chinese calligraphy in every stroke, and expressing their best wishes for the New Year.

Foreign friends from South Korea are writing the Chinese character "Fu" with Guangrao Qi writing brushes. [Photo by Li Hao]

　　In the cultural exchange and interaction session, the host introduced the historical origins of the Chinese Spring Festival, the cultural connotations of spring couplets, and unique customs of Dongying to the citizens of Yangju City, South Korea. Through videos and images, they gained knowledge about Dongying's vibrant culture and the distinctive landscape of the Yellow River estuary. At the end of the event, Yangju citizens were given spring couplets and "Fu" characters written by calligraphers of Dongying.

A group photo of Yangju citizens holding spring couplets and the Chinese character "Fu". [Photo by Li Hao]

　　This event allowed Yangju citizens to appreciate the charm of Chinese Spring Festival culture, further consolidating and deepening the friendly relations between Dongying and Yangju.