Foreign experts experience Chinese traditional arts

Following the teacher's instruction, Anne Banitowski, with scissors in hand, was totally absorbed in cutting a red piece of paper along the dotted lines.

"I'm cutting out 'double happiness.' I plan to add some hollowed-out flowers and give it to a Chinese friend as a wedding present," she said.

The Canadian is now a teacher in the No.2 High School of Yinchuan City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It is her first time celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in China, although she has lived in the country for years.

As the COVID-19 concerns rage on across the globe, many people in China, including foreign experts like Banitowski, have reduced travels during the Spring Festival.

In order to enrich their holiday life, the region's science and technology department organized a celebration activity on Jan. 24, inviting 24 foreign experts from 13 countries to experience traditional Chinese art including paper-cutting and ink painting.

"It's my first time to try paper-cutting, and it is really fun," said Anne Banitowski.

More than 2,000 foreign experts have come to work in the region over the past five years, according to Chen Fang, deputy director of the department.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Ningxia authorities have provided anti-epidemic supplies and daily necessities like vegetables and fruits to the foreign experts.

Ningxia has also held free online Chinese language classes for foreign experts and streamlined the procedures for work permits.

Having worked as a teacher in North Minzu University for seven years, Baktygul Raimbekova from Kyrgyzstan teaches Russian to local students in Ningxia and gives lectures on Chinese to international students.

Beyond classes, Baktygul Raimbekova likes to paint based on inspirations from traditional Chinese stories, operas and woodcarving.

She also established an art gallery in May 2021, where she can convey her vision toward Chinese art and culture to her foreign friends.

In the latest offline Lunar New Year celebration activity, the art lover learned how to create a traditional Chinese ink painting.

El Batoul Nejjaoui from Morocco is now based in Ningxia as a translator of books and films. When the region suffered from a resurgence of COVID-19 cases last October, she volunteered to help with epidemic control in her community while also shooting several videos for audience in countries along the Belt and Road on how the local government managed to curb the outbreak.

"I hope there will be more chances for us to know about cultures in Ningxia and China so that we can introduce China to the world from our own perspectives," said El Batoul Nejjaoui.

"The city is full of the festival spirit with red lanterns everywhere. I've already been invited to celebrate the Spring Festival in a friend's home. I'm really looking forward to it," said the Canadian teacher.