More than 600 Tibetan students at Jinan Tibetan Middle School celebrated their New Year with Han students from nine local schools in Jinan in East China’s Shandong province this month.

Cultural performances and other activities were held March 5 by Jinan Tibetan Middle School, the only boarding school in Shandong for students from Shigatse in Tibet autonomous region. The goal was to help Tibetan students far from home enjoy themselves on their biggest festival of the year.

"Not only teachers, but also some friends, came here to celebrate the New Year with us. I feel very happy,” Tonggao Droma, a student at Jinan Tibetan Middle School, said.

She said that Tibetan families traditionally dress in their newest clothing to welcome the New Year with food, wine, dancing, singing and fireworks. The holiday began Saturday and will last for about two weeks.

The traditional celebrations include the traditional ritual of “beating the ghost” and the eating of gutu pastries, which are believed to keep the bad things of the past from encroaching into the New Year.