Huazhong Agricultural University hosted a Spring Festival celebration on Jan 25, with faculty and students on campus gathering to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one.
Around 4 pm, the cafeteria hall was adorned with festive lights and decorations, exuding a strong holiday ambiance.
At the entrance of the hall, both local and international students gathered around square tables to write couplets and create block prints. Nearby, students and teachers threaded fruits like strawberries, hawthorns, and grapes onto sticks and dipped them in a thin layer of syrup to create sugar-coated haws. Not far off, laughter filled the air as several teachers and students made ciba, or traditional glutinous rice cakes, alongside cafeteria chefs.

Teachers and students make ciba, or traditional glutinous rice cakes. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
By 5 pm, faculty and students had taken their seats as 100 tables were arranged for the New Year's Eve dinner, with nearly 400 individuals coming together in a harmonious setting, officially marking the start of the Spring Festival celebration.
On the dining tables, steam rose from hotpots as ingredients sourced from the school's technological innovations were prepared.
During the banquet, Chinese and international students and teachers delivered a variety of unique performances, including singing, dancing, recitations, and musical instrument performances. In between acts, there were lucky draws offering prizes such as Bluetooth speakers, smartwatches, and pocket cameras.

A student from Thailand performs a traditional Thai dance. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
Amid a chorus of well-wishes, the Spring Festival celebration concluded on a high note.