Recently, the 2026 Dongying Africa Day, themed “See Africa in Dongying with One Dream Together”, was held in Dongying, east China’s Shandong Province. More than 10 African friends living and working in Dongying from six countries, including Egypt, Sudan, South Africa and Ghana, participated in the event. The program featured a rich variety of content presented in diverse formats.

During the cultural exchange session, African friends performed Chinese songs, showcased traditional costumes from Egypt and Sudan, and introduced the customs and culture of Nigeria. Dongying’s community residents also put on African drumming and Xinjiang traditional dance performances, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

During the food tasting session, Egyptian and Sudanese specialties were presented alongside local delicacies from Dongying. Chinese and foreign friends deepened mutual understanding and their friendship through food tasting and communication.

African guests tried making lacquer fans during the handcraft session. They got hands-on with color mixing and enjoyed the unique beauty of the patterns created as lacquer floated and blended on the fan surface. They also took part in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) activities, gaining a deeper understanding of the profound culture of TCM.

The event concluded with a friendly football match between African friends and Dongying residents. Passing the ball and working together on the field, the players expressed their shared hope of building friendship and moving forward together.