Dongying in East China's Shandong province celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with a cultural exchange event on Sept 14, hosting over 10 foreign experts and their families from the United States, Australia, Belarus, Egypt, and South Africa.

The event offered engaging activities that enriched the guests' understanding of Chinese culture and fostered international cultural exchange.

A screen displaying the event poster is featured at the venue. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The foreign experts began their experience with a festive moon-shaped balloon model and lanterns decorated representing the 24 Solar Terms, which symbolize reunion, happiness, and prosperity.

"In ancient Egyptian culture, the moon was seen as a goddess of music, dance, and love. It's amazing to see the shared cultural themes between China and Egypt," said an Egyptian guest.

The event officially started with a performance by a guqin musician and a tea art expert. The guests enjoyed the soothing sounds of the guqin and the aromatic tea, immersing themselves in this treasured aspect of Chinese intangible cultural heritage, which reflects ancient wisdom in harmony with nature.

"Tea is very popular in Russia, so experiencing the unique tea culture in its place of origin has been a fascinating and special experience," said a guest from Belarus, who eagerly tried her hand at brewing tea after learning about Chinese tea tasting techniques.

The international friends learn African drum during the cultural exchange event in Dongying. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The foreign experts also got the chance to observe and taste Mid-Autumn treats like mooncakes, which are symbols of reunion and a joy.

A group photo of the international experts who participated in the cultural exchange event in Dongying. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The event's hosts offered heartfelt blessings to the international guests in Dongying. Looking ahead, Dongying will provide more opportunities and enhance the experience for expatriates in the city.