Michelle Zhang/Shanghai Daily news

A performance of traditional Chinese drums and gongs shattered the usual silence at Shanghai's Anting New Town last weekend, when a special party was organized to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year in this German-style satellite town.
In the center of the outdoor square, gold "lions" danced to the weighty beats and red lanterns and festive scrolls were hung on towering trees. People from home and abroad, all in their favorite Tang-era outfits, cheerfully engaged in traditional alley games such as gun quanzi (hoop running), che lingzi (spindle juggling) and kite flying.
Children were the happiest partygoers. A group of 10 fair-haired children were brought to the runways, with tiny lanterns in their hands, wearing qipaos and cheongsams of various colors.
Boys and girls from Shanghai German School won themselves waves of acclaims through their Chinese kung fu and traditional folk dance, while their fellow Chinese students played traditional instruments and sang Peking Opera.
Plenty more fun games were also played to help the children learn more about traditional Chinese customs. They were encouraged to make firecrackers, learn paper-cuttings and try Peking Opera facial makeup by themselves.
To end the day, their parents joined them in making dumplings for a special dinner, served with coffee and bread.
"I have never been to such a Chinese-style party," said Diana Ramirz from Mexico, an eighth-grade student who is currently studying in Shanghai. "Although I've learned about some Chinese traditions in school, it is the first time I've seen all of them happen in one place at one time."
Her schoolmate from Germany, Lisa Rude, who came to Shanghai one year ago, said she was very much looking forward to seeing the fireworks displays during  the lunar New Year.
"The fireworks last year were just amazing, and the streets were filled with the smoky smells of firecrackers," she recalled.
Many foreigners choose to stay in town during the Spring Festival vacation to give themselves an opportunity to recover from their Christmas and New Year travel mania.
"I will stay in town," said Daniela Margraf from Switzerland, who arrived in Shanghai with her family last February. "I'm curious to find out how people celebrate the festival here."
Margraf added that she would go to Chinese restaurants with her family and friends in Shanghai to join the holiday fun and to see what people eat for Chinese New Year.
Carlo Nordloh, a French artist, said that because of the hoards of people traveling all over China during the festival, he would rather choose another time to travel around.
"A party like this is fantastic," he said. "It helps us to learn more about the culture of China. It's a pity that I don't have any Chinese friends here to spend the Chinese New Year with. For the holiday celebration, I hope I can find a similar party where I can meet more friends, especially locals."
Last year, Georg Erhart from Bavaria, Germany, and his family celebrated their first Chinese New Year in Shanghai by singing karaoke with friends. This year, he plans to take his wife and two sons to some small cities and townships nearby.