Ahmed Al-Yafie was busy preparing a list of guests ahead of China's traditional Lantern Festival, also a gathering chance for him and his close friends to discuss business for the Year of the Ox.

The Canadian merchant of Yemeni origin is also the chairman of the Arab Community and has lived in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, for over two decades. He has fixated on China's booming economy ever since his first trip to the country in 1999.

For him, the Chinese Lunar New Year demonstrates the nation's ancient wisdom. "The Lunar New Year is calculated according to the phases of the moon, which echoes with the Arabic calendar built upon observations of the moon. It is an interesting fact that the ancestors were likely to be unaware of each other's existence at all, but both came up with similar timekeeping approaches," he said.

This year's Spring Festival seems a little different for the foreigner, though.

As an annual routine, Ahmed Al-Yafie would travel to visit his family members around the world during the Spring Festival holiday. He chose to stay in Guangzhou this year as the Chinese government called upon citizens to reduce long-distance traveling as much as possible.

"I can understand why the government wants its people to stay put, and it is a wise idea as we haven't beaten the disease for good," he said.

This year's staycation also impressed Ahmed Al-Yafie with the city's full-bodied festive atmosphere. "The color red was seen everywhere, which is believed by the Chinese to bring good luck for everybody. My family visited several parks and went hiking for fun as well as enjoyed a fantastic firework show together," he added.

He is also happy to find that cross-border travels have gradually reopened as the COVID-19 vaccines are churned out and delivered around the globe.

"China is quite safe now, and its economy is picking up. I can see from the packed theaters and restaurants during the holiday that the country's economy is worth my confidence. I am looking forward to further reopening of the country's borders so that the international trade can recover steadily," Ahmed Al-Yafie said.