🌏 International Students Celebrate Year of the Loong with Dragon Dance in Nanjing! - 🌍NewspaperAmigo

Dragon dances aren’t just for Lunar New Year parades anymore! Over 50 international students from 14 countries, including France, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Colombia, recently swapped textbooks for dragon puppets at Nanjing Agricultural University. The event transformed the campus gym into a rainbow of cultural exchange as participants learned the art of synchronized dragon dancing ahead of the Year of the Loong.

“It’s like a giant, breathing caterpillar made of fabric!” laughed Maria from Colombia as she helped maneuver the 15-meter-long dragon. Coaches taught teams to coordinate every flick of the dragon’s tail and nod of its bejeweled head – a tradition symbolizing unity and prosperity.

The activity also featured workshops about the dragon’s significance in Chinese culture. “This isn’t the fire-breathing Smaug from *Lord of the Rings*,” explained student organizer Li Wei. “In China, dragons represent wisdom and good luck – perfect vibes for 2024!”

With laughter echoing through the gym, the event proved cultural barriers melt faster than candyfloss when there’s a giant dragon to wrangle. Stay tuned for more cross-border celebrations as Lunar New Year approaches!