This Spring Festival, Southeast University student Chaima Merzougui and her sister Hanane from Algeria embarked on a unique cultural journey to the Lishui district, Nanjing, after discovering the destination through social media.

Through social media, Chaima discovers Chinese New Year festivities in Lishui, Nanjing. [Photo/chinanews.com]

"In the past, we celebrated Chinese New Year in the city, but this year, I realized there are so many different ways to celebrate," said Chaima, who has lived in China for five years and actively explores local culture through social media.

Chaima learns the Running-Horse Lantern dance in traditional costume. [Photo/chinanews.com]

In Xiangling village, Jingqiao town, the sisters witnessed the vibrant Running-Horse Lantern dance, an ancient folk performance featuring rhythmic drumbeats and formations inspired by historical Chinese heroes. Invited to join the festivities, Chaima and Hanane donned traditional costumes and danced alongside the performers, immersing themselves in the centuries-old tradition.

Their journey continued to Helinfang village in the Honglan sub-district, where they discovered Shuanglong Hall, home to two massive dragon lanterns carefully restored for the festival. Each dragon, measuring over 50 meters long, requires 100 people to maneuver, with built-in balance boards and candles that remain upright even as the dragons leap and coil in motion.

"Most of the dragon dancers are young people who return home from the cities just for this event," Chaima observed. "This makes Chinese New Year so special — bringing people back together to celebrate their roots and traditions."