As the Year of the Snake slithers in, 21-year-old Tsinghua University student Takaya Inoue is ditching textbooks for dumplings 🥟! The Tokyo native is staying in Beijing this Spring Festival to immerse himself in China’s most iconic celebration with friends from around the globe. 🎊
“In Japan, we eat soba noodles for longevity and visit temples at midnight,” Inoue shared, drawing parallels between his homeland’s January 1 celebrations and China’s lunar new year traditions. “But like here, family reunions are everything – it’s wild how both cultures prioritize that connection.”
From watching lion dances in hutongs to learning the art of jiaozi folding, Inoue’s adventure highlights how ancient traditions are building modern bridges. “My Chinese roommates taught me their New Year’s money-gifting customs 🧧, while I explained Japan’s \'first sunrise\' rituals. We’re basically cultural translators!”
