The Laba Festival has always carried a rich festive atmosphere and cultural charm since ancient times. This year's Laba Festival was an unforgettable cultural experience for 40 Chinese-descendant teenagers from Panama participating in the "China Root-Seeking Journey" winter camp in Jinan, Shandong. On the morning of January 18th, the 40 young participants attended the launch ceremony of the 2024 Spring Festival Shandong Rural Cultural Tourism Festival themed "Best of Huaiyin·Celebratiion for the Lunar New Year "
The event took place at the Impression Jinan Central Square in Huaiyin District, Jinan. The scene was lively and vibrant, with drums and gongs, lion dances, and captivating performances such as "Taihuajiao(Lifting the Flower Sedan)" and the traditional drum dance "Huantianxidi(Joyful Celebration)," showcasing the distinctive local features of Jinan. The rich cultural programs attracted the attention of the young Chinese descendants, who watched with full concentration and occasionally expressed admiration, as if they were in a marvelous world filled with traditional Chinese culture.
Beside the splendid performances, there were also a variety of local agricultural products on display, including Yellow River rice, West Suburb leeks, Yellow River white lotus roots, and Huaiyin round onions, presented as " Gifts of Huai Township" by local agricultural enterprises. At the event, the children tasted Laba porridge, experiencing the festive atmosphere and the taste of home.
This activity not only allowed the young Chinese descendants to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture but also deepened their understanding of their roots and origins. The children expressed that this trip to Jinan not only enriched their cultural knowledge but also strengthened their determination to inherit and promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture.
（Li Xiaotong; Hua Shan; Yuan Yuhua; Hou Yawen; Liu Xiaohan; Lou Xinyu; Yang Yang; Li Ziyue; Han Wenzhi; Wang Xi; Zhou Nan; Zhang Xun; Xu Jiayi; Chen Zeyu; Liu Qianying; Chong Yaqi; Wang Jianle; Chen Shuning；Zhang Kaiyang; Zhou Yiru）