Children fill Peking Opera mask paintings with colors at an activity of "Chinese New Year Cultural Workshop: Symbols of China" to welcome the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year held in Johnsonville Library, Wellington, capital of New Zealand, Jan. 12. 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
The "Symbols of China" workshop features a variety of traditional cultural practices, such as engraving and paper cutting, Beijing Opera face painting, Spring Festival couplets calligraphy and Chinese lanterns.
WELLINGTON, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese New Year Cultural Workshop: Symbols of China was held in Johnsonville Library, Wellington, capital of New Zealand on Sunday.
Wellington citizens, including the local Chinese community were presented with the opportunity to try a variety of traditional cultural practices, such as engraving and paper cutting, Beijing Opera face painting, Gongfu tea ceremony, Spring Festival couplets calligraphy, Chinese lanterns and fortune ball making.
There was also a traditional Chinese medicine stall in the event, which offered free consultation and herbal tea bags as gifts.
Traditional Chinese therapist Natalie Floyd of New Zealand descent introduces traditional Chinese medicine to visitors at an activity of "Chinese New Year Cultural Workshop: Symbols of China" to welcome the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year held in Johnsonville Library, Wellington, capital of New Zealand, Jan. 12. 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Traditional Chinese therapist Natalie Floyd of New Zealand descent received attention as she appeared by the stall.
"I have been practicing acupuncture and Chinese massage for more than two years," Natalie said.
Aside from demonstrating the system of meridians and collaterals of human beings, she also brought some herbal tea bags which aid in digestion.
People queue for "mouse" and "Character Fu" paper cutting at an activity of "Chinese New Year Cultural Workshop: Symbols of China" to welcome the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year held in Johnsonville Library, Wellington, capital of New Zealand, Jan. 12. 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Engraving and paper cutting artist, 80-year-old Liu Changwu was the highlight of the event. Over 100 people queued for his "mouse" and "Character Fu" paper cutting during the course of two hours.
Children were happily involved in the Beijing Opera Face Painting and Chinese Lantern Making workshop.
People make traditional red lanterns at an activity of "Chinese New Year Cultural Workshop: Symbols of China" to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year held in Johnsonville Library, Wellington, capital of New Zealand, Jan. 12. 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
"The upcoming Chinese New Year is our first one spent overseas. I am so appreciated that my four-year-old daughter received the chance to practice our cultural customs here," a new immigrant from China said.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Wellington Chinese Cultural Center and the Yafeng Group, a local Chinese cultural community. ■
