Sohaib Asif and Fazal Hadi try their hand at dachaomi in Taizhou. [Photo/Tide News]

Sohaib Asif and Fazal Hadi from Pakistan visited Xinhe Old Street on Jan 15 in Wenling —  a county-level city in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, where they delved into local New Year customs and experienced the festive atmosphere.

At the bustling market, the duo marveled at an array of New Year goods and tantalizing snacks. They tried their hand at dachaomi, a Wenling tradition where rice is stir-fried in a machine to make popcorn.

For Asif, in his seventh year in China, this was his first encounter with this tradition, a delightful and novel New Year activity. Similarly, Hadi, in his fifth year in China, found frying rice noodles fun and was surprised by the taste.

Both indulged in a culinary journey and loved the richness of Chinese food culture. They also immersed themselves in traditional activities, shaping rice cakes into pig and chicken heads, experiencing the charm of Wenling's customs up close.

The two Pakistanis' visit deepened their love for China, leaving them captivated by the vibrancy and traditions of Chinese New Year. Asif expressed his excitement, planning to share the unique experience to show the cultural richness of China upon his return.