Chongqing- Now the Spring Festival comes and many people across China have traveled home to reunite with their families in anticipation of this famous week-long holiday and to ring out the old year and see in the new with the advent of spring.

In Chongqing, expats with Chinese spouses have the opportunity to experience the new year festivities more closely than most, and in this video, Zak from the U.K. shares the fun process of making filled glutinous rice balls known as "tangyuan" and dumplings from the comfort of home in Yubei District.

Half an hour northwards by car, Frank from the U.S. brings overseas students and staff members from Southwest University together for a special afternoon. Instead of simply enjoying a pre-festival meal together this year, he organized a session for everyone to perform shadow operas and assemble traditional lanterns.

Wherever you may be in the world, journey with us into the lives of ex-pats in Chongqing as they prepare for the festive season with family and friends, and I wish everybody all the best for the Year of the Rabbit 2023!