An aroma of Chinese foods wafted through the air as people from all walks of life gathered in a festive spirit. With the Year of the Rabbit right around the corner, Nigeria's Chinese community held a carnival celebration here on Saturday.

The observance of the Chinese Lunar New Year is particularly relevant for local Chinese, who wish to maintain tradition and share their culture with their Nigerian neighbors and friends.

Under branded pop-up canopies at the China Cultural Center in Abuja, several tables were laden with Chinese cuisines, such as dumplings, noodles and rice cakes. Revelers moved in droves to taste the savory foods on display.

"It is good to experience China in Nigeria and for us to get to know their culture, their food, and what they represent," Maryjude Ayodele, a businesswoman, told Xinhua.

Displaying a white paper on which her name had been written with Chinese characters under one pop-up canopy, Ayodele praised the level of "Nigeria-China cultural exchange."

The gathering was one of the events hosted by the Chinese embassy to celebrate the Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, which falls on Jan. 22 this year.