Seventeen foreigners living in Baoding, North China's Hebei province, were invited by residents in Jingxiu district to spend Little New Year, or Xiaonian in Chinese, on Saturday. The Xiaonian is usually a week before Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan 14 this year.

They participated in multiple Chinese traditions such as making dumplings and decorating steamed buns, or huamo.

The foreigners from nine different countries, including Russia, Portugal, Vietnam and Bangladesh, are either teachers or students.

"I love spending Lunar New Year with my Chinese friends and having a reunion meal with them, which makes me feel warm," a participant from Portugal said.