Full coverage: 2017 Spring Festival

With lanterns, banners and Chinese music, Cairo’s Al Azhar Park is ready to celebrate the Spring Festival. This is the biggest public park in the Egyptian capital; no other place could accommodate the thousands of visitors who are excited to enjoy the shows.

“I brought my children here so they can watch how Chinese celebrate, to introduce them to the Chinese culture that is tied to us in many ways, there are also some similarities. I am very keen to bring them to the Spring Festivals every year. I must say, it’s getting more popular every year in Egypt,” said Samy El Kamhawy, a Cairo resident.

“I think it’s a good idea to bring some Chinese cultural elements to Egypt from Asia to Africa. I think the artists from China have shown us a very good festival gala here in Egypt. You see so many people join the event. It’s hard to tell which is the best show; there are so many wonderful shows here. But I prefer the martial arts more,” said Zhang Yifu, a Chinese tourist in Cairo.

While the event has entertained to many visitors, families with both Egyptian and Chinese members attended for more valuable reasons: They brought their children to stay in touch with their roots.

“My wife and children are Chinese, so I brought them here to make them feel that we are in our second home, China. Egypt and China, as eastern countries are very close. They preserve the traditions of the ancestors, which are similar. Family unions are very important during the spring festivals; it’s the exact situation for us here during Eid. By coming here, we are teaching our children these values,” said Gaber Hassan, a Cairo resident.

The Chinese embassy began organizing celebrating the Spring Festival in 2010. This is by far its biggest event yet.