Expats join locals to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept 22. [Photo by Mao Weijun /chinadaily.com.cn]

Some 120 expats got together with locals to enjoy some culture and experience the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere in Wuxi, Jiangsu province on Sept 22.

Melanie Fraser, a participant from New Zealand, said she was amazed to see a Chinese opera in one of the huge plazas in Wuxi. She even got the chance to try some Chinese opera moves on stage with guidance from local professional artist Wang Xinhai at the launching ceremony.

Melanie Fraser (R), tries some Peking Opera moves on stage at the launching ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The enthusiastic group then walked along some of Wuxi’s busiest streets and collected memorabilia stamps at five major viewpoints including the T12 Shopping Mall, the KFC outlet at Chong’an Temple and the Chinese Silk Industry Museum. Goutam Seen, an art teacher from Wuxi No. 1 High School, collected the five stamps with a willing spirit. Given a lantern to paint by himself at T12, he showed off his painting skills with a striking portrait. Goutam also enjoyed exploring the city’s culture at the final spot, the Chinese Opera Wharf.

“The stamp collecting walks, the mind blowing opera performances on stage and the sumptuous Chinese traditional dinner along with a box of KFC chicken too. The whole experience was a memorable one,” said Goutam.

Goutam Seen (2nd from the left) shows off his lantern painting at the T12 Shopping Mall on Sept 22. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]