With the Year of the Horse approaching, many international students in Shenyang, Liaoning Province have chosen to stay in the city for the Spring Festival holidays. On the evening of February 6, the Liaoning International Communication Center (LICC) treated these students to a festive choral concert titled Home for Chinese New Year.

International students from India, Pakistan, and Ghana headed to the Liaoning Grand Theatre to receive the exclusive “Spring Festival gifts” from LICC. Holding tickets in hand, they had a blast snapping photos together in the lobby. For Alasba, an Indian student celebrating her very first Spring Festival in China, the unique cultural customs and festive vibes were a total standout compared to her hometown’s festival traditions.

Arhin William from Shenyang Normal University was pumped to find that he recognized most songs on the setlist! When the choir struck up hits like Love One Another and Happy Chinese New Year, he was right there singing along. Mussadiq Ullah, a Pakistani student from Liaoning University, said he couldn’t get the catchy melody of Give You Joy out of his head. For both of them, the concert perfectly captured the warmth and vitality of people in Liaoning, as well as the deep love and anticipation that Chinese people have for the Spring Festival.

After the performance, the students took photos with the performers from the Liaoning Opera House. Arhin William even shared a dream for the future: he hopes one day he can stand on a stage like this, and sing to welcome the Spring Festival!