LUSAKA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people in Zambia's capital on Sunday got a front-row taste of Chinese New Year traditions as a Spring Festival temple fair brought vibrant performances and rich aromas to Lusaka, an event organizers said helps deepen people-to-people ties under the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
Hosted at Levy Junction Mall, the festivities blended kung fu demonstrations, folk dances and upbeat songs with a wide array of Chinese street food and traditional dishes, drawing eager crowds, many experiencing Chinese culture up close for the first time.
Lusaka resident Jessica Nyirenda said she was captivated by both the performances and the food, noting that it was her first close interaction with the Chinese culture.
"What I have seen here is very beautiful because this is my first time interacting with Chinese people up close," she told Xinhua, adding that the experience made cultural exchange feel more personal and real.
Beyond performances and cuisine, the temple fair also featured exhibition booths showcasing distinctive Zambian and Chinese enterprises, offering visitors a closer look at products, services and business opportunities linked to the two countries' growing cooperation.
Many attendees said the event provided both entertainment and a deeper cultural connection.
For Friday Mubanga, curiosity brought him and his friends to the fair, where they discovered more than they had expected. "The event is quite interesting because we have seen many things that we sometimes do not pay attention to, but today we are seeing them very closely," he said.
This year, China's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 17, marking the start of the Year of the Horse.
Speaking at the event, Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango said the temple fair reflects broader efforts to enhance people-to-people engagement while advancing cooperation between Zambia and China.
"This celebration today is an actualization of this important partnership action here in Zambia. The government is not only fully committed to it, but also to the action plan as a whole," she said.
"It is aimed at advancing people-to-people interaction. The event is also organized to promote and facilitate trade and investment between Zambian and Chinese entrepreneurs," she said.
Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba echoed that view, saying cultural events are bridges between communities. "Festivals like this are living proof that culture is more than just a memory. Culture is a bridge that connects communities," he said, adding that such exchanges can turn heritage into a shared experience.
Wang Sheng, charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, said temple fairs are among the most vibrant traditional folk activities during the Spring Festival.
"For Chinese people, the Spring Festival is not merely a date on the lunar calendar. It is a cultural heritage, a container of nostalgia that carries our best wishes for family reunion and national prosperity," he said.
Noting that the Year of the Horse symbolizes diligence, courage and enterprise, Wang said it represents "a spirit of vitality, perseverance and striving for excellence."
As China and Africa commemorate 70 years of diplomatic relations this year, alongside the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Wang said China will work with African countries to organize a wide range of cultural activities to promote mutual learning and deepen people-to-people bonds.
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