Chinese and international students at the Nantong Vocational College of Science and Technology make dumplings on March 12 to welcome Dragon Head-Raising Day. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

International students at Nantong Vocational College of Science and Technology took part in a dumpling-making activity on March 12 to welcome Dragon Head-Raising Day, also known as Long Tai Tou.

The festival takes place on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, which falls on March 14 this year. It is meant to honor the Chinese dragon and to pray for good weather in spring, the most important time for plowing fields.

Foods eaten on that day are usually related to the Chinese dragon. For example, the action of eating dumplings is "chi long er" in Chinese, which literally means "eating dragon's ears".

During the activity, Chinese students taught their international peers how to make dumplings and told stories about dumplings in Chinese culture.

A student from Bangladesh said it was difficult at first but interesting after learning how to do it. He added that he would make dumplings for his family when he returned home so that they could also learn about Chinese culture.