Jeff says he considers one year in Qingdao with his Chinese friend's family to be the most authentic. He was able to join the family at home, sitting around a small room eating and drinking all together with the CCTV New Year's Eve Gala program on in the background.

Maxime Bureau is from Paris and a local DJ with BaiCai who has also been here for five years now and loves the positive energy surrounding the Spring Festival because he says it's so different from France. He loves the energy of the people during that time and advises newcomers to join in if they really want to understand.

"Just get in with the street and party with the people, the "Lao bai xing," the person who lives just across the road and be part of it and talk to them and learn of their culture."

Nothing is quite such a class in Chinese culture as the Spring Festival. The excitement, sense of family and community, and sensory overload of the fireworks make for a truly unique experience.

Claude Gauvin, however, laughs and offers newcomers one friendly piece of advice, when celebrating one of the most anticipating holidays of the year.

"Enjoy and go have fun, but bring earplugs!"

 

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