To deepen international students' understanding of China's excellent traditional culture and its economic and social development, the School of International Education (SIE) at Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) recently organized a series of themed activities titled “Experience in China · Welcoming the Winter Solstice”. This meticulously designed series integrated cultural experiences with industrial practice. By organizing traditional solar term cultural activities and a municipal-level brand visit project, it built a multi-dimensional platform for international students to "Experience China".
Experiencing Winter Solstice folk-custom, Feeling Cultural Warmth
On December 18, ahead of the Winter Solstice, SIE organized an on-campus cultural experience activity themed around "Crafting Pandas · Making Dumplings." The activity aimed to give international students hands-on experience of traditional Chinese solar term culture and enhance their perceptual knowledge of Chinese culture.
The event began with an introduction to the Winter Solstice, covering its historical origins, cultural significance, and traditional customs, particularly the practice of eating dumplings in northern China. During the panda modeling session, students freely created using colored clay, inspired by China's national treasure, the giant panda. Their various and charming panda creations demonstrated the students' strong interest and rich imagination regarding Chinese culture.
The dumpling-making session was particularly lively. Following demonstrations and guidance from canteen staff, students learned each step—from kneading dough and rolling wrappers to filling and shaping the dumplings. Although it was the first attempt for many, the atmosphere was harmonious and full of laughter as everyone helped each other. When the steaming dumplings they made were served, the students tasted the fruits of their labor, deeply appreciating the cultural significance of reunion, warmth, and blessing associated with the Winter Solstice, and also experiencing the warmth and care of campus life.
Visiting Time-Honored Brand Park, Perceiving Brand Innovation Vitality
On December 19, SIE actively organized nearly 30 international students to participate in the "Jingpin BIG-Y—Visiting Time-Honored Enterprise " special event held at the arctic ocean culture park by the Beijing Overseas Talents Center. This event brought together international students from several Beijing universities and institutions, including BUCT, Beihang University (BUAA), Capital Normal University（CNU）, and the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, aiming to let them experience the inheritance and innovation of Chinese national brands up close.
Within the zone, the students gained an in-depth understanding of the development history and of the classic brands "Arctic Ocean" and "YiLi." By visiting production workshops and brand exhibition halls, they gained a direct understanding of standardized processes, quality control, and technological R&D in the modern food industry. During the hands-on session, students personally made several types of bread and cakes, participating in the entire process from ingredient preparation to baking, experiencing the joy of food making and appreciating the dedication to quality and craftsmanship of the time-honored brands. They expressed that this immersive visit gave them a more concrete and vivid understanding of the modernization transformation of Chinese brands, the high standards of Chinese manufacturing, and the opportunities within the Chinese market.
The "Experience in China · Welcoming the Winter Solstice" series is a significant reflection of the SIE's ongoing efforts to deeply integrate international student education with understanding of Chinese national conditions and cultural practices.
By thoughtfully sequencing on-campus traditional cultural activities with off-campus industrial visits, the SIE enabled students to form a more multi-dimensional and rich understanding of contemporary China in a short time, enhancing their identification with Chinese culture.
In the future, the SIE at BUCT will continue to leverage high-quality resources both on and off campus, expand cooperative platforms, and design more diverse and substantive practical projects and cultural activities. This commitment aims to continuously improve the "Experience in China " practical education system and assist in cultivating more outstanding talents who understand, befriend, and love China, possessing both international perspectives and cultural understanding.
