As the Yi Si Snake Year in the Chinese lunar calendar approaches, Li Fengyan, a representative inheritor of the Shenyang intangible cultural heritage Li’s sugar figurine craftsmanship, is immersed in using various syrups to create snake-shaped sugar paintings. Malt sugar is melted to paint white snakes, and cane sugar is for green ones. The vibrant shapes and vivid hues of the creations have drawn many international students to experience the traditional craftsmanship, ushering in the arrival of the Chinese New Year by making sugar paintings.

Amid the aroma of sweet sugar, Hong Nhung, a Vietnamese student, learned to paint a white snake, while the Pakistani student named Muzda chose to paint a green snake. In the process of learning how to paint with sugar, they also listened carefully to the romantic Chinese folk tale The Legend of White Snake told by Li Fengyan.

In the antique Shenyang Fangcheng, the international students held their sugar painting works in hands, and waved them with an overwhelming sense of happiness, as the crystal-clear “white snake” and “green snake” shone radiantly in the sunlight.