Sixteen foreign students from Linyi University in Shandong cooked glutinous rice balls, made lanterns, and solved lantern riddles with local residents on Feb 1 to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival, which falls on Feb 5 this year.

Overseas students from Linyi University learn to make tangyuan, a kind of stuffed small dumpling ball made of glutinous rice flour, with locals at a service center in Linyi, Shandong province on Feb 1. Families across China prepare the traditional treat to celebrate Lantern Festival. [Photo/IC]

Overseas students from Linyi University learn to make lanterns on Feb 1. Lantern Festival involves the tradition of eating tangyuan, attending temple fairs and viewing lantern displays. [Photo/IC]

Foreign students and local residents make glutinous rice balls to celebrate Lantern Festival, which falls on Feb 5 this year. [Photo/IC]

Foreign students guess lantern riddles with local residents on Feb 1 at a service center in Linyi, Shandong province. [Photo/IC]

Foreign students take part in a local Lantern Festival celebratory event on Feb 1 in Linyi. [Photo/IC]

Foreign students sample glutinous rice balls, a Lantern Festival delicacy, on Feb 1 in Linyi. [Photo/IC]

Foreign students pose for a group photo with local residents at the celebratory event. [Photo/IC]