"Laowai" in China | Tajikistan student feels Chinese New Year vibe in N China's Tianjin

Xinhua
11 Feb 2026, 20:46 GMT+10

(260211) -- TIANJIN, Feb. 11, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Suleimanov Umar (front) films a video at a festive fair in Chuanfangyu Town of Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, Feb. 10, 2026. On the occasion of traditional Chinese Xiaonian Festival in northern China, which fell on Tuesday this year, Suleimanov Umar, a 26-year-old Tajikistan student in Nankai University of Tianjin, and other international students visited a local festive fair in Chuanfangyu Town to experience the vibrant traditions of Chinese New Year. Celebrated on the 23rd day of the last month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Xiaonian is a festival marking the start of the countdown to the Chinese New Year.

When Suleimanov was a child, most neighbors were Chinese working in Tajikistan, thus he was deeply impressed by Chinese New Year traditions such as putting up Spring Festival couplets and making dumplings.

When in middle school, he began studying Chinese at local Confucius Institute, and then chose to go to university in China with the support of his family. While staying in China he immersed himself in social practice and actively participated in cultural exchange activities.

Speaking of the future, Suleimanov said, "I hope I could engage in diplomatic work after graduation and strive to become an envoy of friendship". (Xinhua/Li Ran)

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