Master Chen Zhikang teaches international students to make paper lanterns on Feb 22 for the upcoming Lantern Festival. [Photo by Chen Chen/jschina.com.cn]

Four foreign students studying in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province joined local residents on Feb 22 to make lantern decorations for the upcoming Lantern Festival, local media outlets reported.

As so named, Lantern Festival cannot be celebrated without lanterns, and although rituals and customs vary in different parts of China, lanterns always play a crucial role on this day.

Chen Zhikang, who is a master of the craft of making traditional decorative paper lanterns, guided the students as they tried to make their own lanterns.

"I didn't expect you to make such a beautiful lantern as I've taught you only once, so good job," said Chen to an Indonesian student.

The 20-year-old student said that she appreciated Chen's recognition and had a lot of fun learning the Chinese intangible cultural heritage.

The paper lanterns, which are usually in red, an auspicious color in Chinese culture, represent people's wishes for a bright future. They can also symbolize people letting go of their past selves and embracing their new selves, which they will let go of the next year. The lanterns in ancient times were fairly simple, but nowadays with new technologies and electricity, they come in all shapes and sizes like auspicious characters and mythical animals.