Overseas students in China have spent some quality time during this recent Spring Festival as they experienced typical Chinese celebratory activities with teachers and classmates who have tried to help them feel at home while far from family.

Holding a calligraphy brush with his right hand, Mutakala Siakalima learned to write the Chinese character "fu", which means good fortune, on a red paper square by imitating a teacher's movements stroke by stroke.

Siakalima, 19, is a sophomore from Zambia majoring in economics and international trade at Hebei University of Science and Technology in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province.

He spent the Spring Festival holiday with his teachers and classmates at school this year. It's his first time to experience Chinese celebrations for the festival.

Like him, some foreign students chose to stay in their universities with their friends to celebrate this special Spring Festival. Let's take a closer look at their preparations and celebrations.

Cao Chen in Shanghai, Xin Wen in Xi'an and Ye Zizhen in Beijing contributed to this story.