Encountering Chinese New Year in Paris

From marketplace buzz to literary elegance

Visitors were guided through themed floors throughout the afternoon.

The second-floor book bar resembled a lively marketplace, blending themed booths with mini performances. Visitors were encouraged to take part in makeup styling, traditional Chinese medicine presentation, handicraft workshops, music and dance interactions, calligraphy practice and puzzle challenges.

On the third floor, the mood shifted to pursuits popular with the literati, including tea appreciation, wine tasting, incense culture, guqin (seven-string zither) playing, board games, and the making of traditional tea snacks.

The fourth floor highlighted intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship, inviting visitors not only to observe but also to create. Activities included painted clay figurines, bamboo weaving, paper-cutting, cloisonné enameling and Sichuan brocade handicrafts. Tangram puzzles and Luban locks added interactive fun for families, revealing the structural beauty embedded in traditional wisdom.

On the fifth floor, a language fair led by senior Chinese teachers turned character learning into games: map puzzles, flashcards, board games, riddles and Spring Festival couplet writing made Chinese characters approachable, playful and memorable.

Exhibitions complemented the festive journey. The ground-floor gallery featured the Year-of-the-Horse-themed design competition, while the second floor of the classical building presented Land of Abundance — Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 220) Pictorial Art from Sichuan. Film screenings, including animated feature Ne Zha and the historical documentary Kangxi and Louis XIV, provided relaxed options for family audiences.