A special potluck party was held on Sept 3 in Xinwu District, Wuxi city, in East China's Jiangsu province to greet the upcoming traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month—Sept 15 this year.

A special potluck party is held on Sept 3 in the Xinwu District of Wuxi to greet the upcoming traditional Mid-Autumn Festival. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Some 200 Chinese residents and expats from several countries including the United States, South Korea, New Zealand, India and Japan, took part in the family event bringing their own specialties.

Organized by the information office and publicity department of Wuxi, the Wuxi Radio and Television Group, and the Guolian Group, the event was one in a series of cultural activities called "Love in Wuxi," which aims to showcase Wuxi as a livable and charming city. It was also the first of three events to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.

Kristina, a 24-year-old American woman teaching art at a local international school, brought "gazpacho", a soup originating from Spain and made with raw vegetables. She said that?she was a big fan of Chinese culture and that experiencing the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival with Chinese families was a unique experience.

Luke, a New Zealander who has been in China for just one month, said that he enjoyed Chinese food so much that he had gained about 5 kg already.

Luke brought Pavlova to the party, which he described as a popular dessert and an important part of the national cuisine of New Zealand. He added that the traditional festival was a wonderful opportunity for family members to reunite, enjoy a good meal, and chat. The New Zealander expressed his joy?of being able to experience it.

Xia Shuitian, an Indian who has been in China for 10 years and now works in Wuxi, said he and his family lived a cozy life in the city. Xia is well versed in Chinese culture, saying that on the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese people eat moon cakes under the full moon and enjoy having a family reunion.

Other events such as traditional folk music, poetry, and taijijian (a Chinese martial art involving swords), also took place.

According to the Wuxi publicity department, currently the city is home to 12,000 foreigners. The local government has been actively promoting the city as a place to live, as well as trying to foster community harmony.

Participants take part in a special potluck party held on Sept 3 in Wuxi to greet the upcoming traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, bringing with?their own dishes. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Foreigners?are enjoying?the potluck party held on Sept 3 in Wuxi to greet the upcoming traditional Mid-Autumn Festival. [Photo/wxrb.com]

Folk music?is performed during the potluck party held on Sept 3 in the Xinwu District of Wuxi, to greet the upcoming traditional Mid-Autumn Festival. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]