ATBARA, Sudan, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Despite the continuing turmoil of the civil war, the National Health Insurance Fund Hall in northeastern Sudan's Atbara city was being transformed into a hub of jubilance.

With the onset of the Chinese Spring Festival, a much-anticipated celebration unfurled in the hall, offering a rare moment of festivity for locals in these trying times.

Hundreds of local officials, residents, visitors, and several Chinese nationals traveled from various parts of Sudan to attend the celebration, the first of its kind in the city.

With the theme of "Together, we create a cultural bridge to deepen the bonds of communication between nations," the celebration staged a diverse array of artistic performances, such as solo and group songs by Sudanese students, short plays, and poetry readings, providing participants with a chance to explore Chinese culture.

"Today is a dream come true. Despite the difficulties, we managed to celebrate the Spring Festival. I am very happy with what we have achieved," said Muwaffaq Atif Babikir, director of the city's Mandarin Training Center, the event's organizer.

"The goal of this celebration is to highlight the true essence of the bonds and brotherhood between the Sudanese and Chinese peoples, and we believe that the Spring Festival beautifully represents these values," Babikir told Xinhua.

The director said the Spring Festival is evolving into an event of global significance, especially since it was added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in December 2024.

Ruaa Khalid, a student from the Mandarin Training Center, recited a poem called "Facing the Sea, Spring Flowers Bloom," which conveyed messages of hope and joy.

At the event, the performance of the song "Friends" sparked enthusiastic applause. Although many in the audience were unfamiliar with the Chinese lyrics, they were captivated by the song's beautiful melody and the choir's exceptional rendition.

Khalid, the lead vocal of the choir, said this song embodies the central themes of the Spring Festival.

"I have been passionate about Chinese songs since I was young, and that might be the reason I decided to learn Chinese," said Khalid, who is currently in her fourth year at the Mandarin Training Center.

She told Xinhua that her dream is to become a Chinese-language newscaster.

Nibras Malik, a 23-year-old Sudanese citizen, traveled from Omdurman, north of the capital Khartoum, to Atbara for the event.

"I traveled for over 15 hours, endured several risks, and faced security difficulties, all for the sake of fulfilling my dream of attending this important celebration," Malik told Xinhua.

"Since the outbreak of the war, I have not been able to participate in any activity related to Chinese culture, and now I am able to enjoy the Spring Festival celebration," she added. "The celebration has brought back unforgettable memories when I attended similar events with my father in Khartoum."

During the celebration, various activities were also held to enable attendees to try Chinese paper cutting, practice Chinese calligraphy, and savor Chinese cuisine.

"The taste of the Chinese food is amazing. I love Chinese dishes, but unfortunately, they're not easily available in Sudan because of the war," Inshirah Ahmed, a government employee, told Xinhua while eating Chinese noodles with beef.

"I'm enjoying this meal and trying to use chopsticks. I have a good enough knowledge of the dishes associated with the Spring Festival," she noted.

Zhang Youzhong, head of Huaxia Hospital, traveled all the way from Port Sudan in eastern Sudan to join the celebration. "This is my first time to attend the Spring Festival gala held by Sudanese, which is particularly festive," he said.

"Considering the current situation in Sudan, this celebration is really hard-won, touching and warm," Zhang told Xinhua.

As the celebration drew to a close, Babikir expressed mixed emotions.

He felt a sense of accomplishment for having navigated numerous challenges in organizing the festivity, yet he also experienced a tinge of regret.

"Due to the current security situation, we were unable to include fireworks in our celebration, which is quite disappointing. However, I remain hopeful that by next Spring Festival, our country will be at peace, allowing us to host a celebration that truly embodies the significance of the occasion," Babikir said. Enditem

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