With the Spring Festival approaching, the festive atmosphere is getting stronger. On January 26, Beijing University of Chemical Technology's School of International Education organized a "Welcome the New Spring, Celebrate Together" cultural experience activity for international students in China. The event was held simultaneously at the North and East campuses. Everyone gathered together to experience traditional Spring Festival customs such as making dumplings, putting up Spring Festival couplets, and paper cutting, feeling the unique charm of Chinese culture.
The venue was decorated with lanterns and festive ornaments, full of a strong holiday atmosphere. Secretary Li Qifang, head of the school, kindly visited the international students staying on campus during the winter break, sent them New Year greetings, and encouraged them to use the holiday to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and achieve academic success in the new year.
01 Event Preparation: Carefully Creating the Spring Festival Atmosphere
To welcome the Year of the Horse Spring Festival, the School of International Education at Beijing University of Chemical Technology started preparing this cultural experience activity several weeks in advance. Staff and international students in China carefully decorated the venue with red lanterns, Chinese knots, window flowers, and Spring Festival couplets, creating a festive and harmonious atmosphere.
02 Cultural Explanation: Deep Understanding of the Spring Festival
Before the official start of the event, the college teachers gave the international students a brief explanation about the historical origins, traditional customs, and cultural symbols of the Spring Festival. The explanation started with the custom of 'after Laba Festival comes the New Year' and extended to various aspects such as Xiaonian (Little New Year), staying up on New Year's Eve, New Year greeting etiquette, and the meaning of lucky money.
At the same time, the college organized a video activity where students expressed 'Chinese culture spreading around the world' in both Chinese and their native languages. Students from Guinea, Uganda, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Egypt, and other countries participated in the on-site recording.
ABIDEEN ZAIN UL, a Pakistani PhD student in China, said: Celebrating the Spring Festival in China, with red lanterns, laughter, and the sounds of family meals, made me realize that the Spring Festival is not just a celebration, but a festival of love, hope, and unity.
ABOTAHUON ABDELRAHMAN MOHAMED IBRAHIM, a master's student from Egypt studying in China, mentioned: China's Spring Festival made me feel that this is a good start and a wonderful blessing.
03 Hands-On Experience: Creating Spring Festival Memories
During the hands-on section, the dumpling-making area brought the event to its peak. From kneading the dough, rolling the wrappers, preparing the filling, to shaping the dumplings, Chinese student volunteers patiently taught the international students each step. At first, the dumplings made by the students were all shapes and sizes, but after some practice, they gradually started to look like proper dumplings.
04 Food Sharing: The Meaning of Reunion in Dumplings
When the dumplings that international students made by hand are cooked and served steaming hot, the event site is filled with a sense of achievement and joy. Everyone gathers around, tasting the fruits of their labor and sharing their own cultural stories.
05 Lasting Impact: Cultural Experiences Extend into Daily Life
After the event, many international students received gifts like Spring Festival couplets and paper-cut window decorations to take back to their dorms. They also shared photos from the event with their family and friends back home. These Chinese New Year elements became part of their everyday life and a memorable part of their China experience.
The International Education College of Beijing University of Chemical Technology has been continuously developing the 'Experience China' cultural program, which has become an important platform for international students to learn about China and integrate into campus life. Every year, the college organizes a series of cultural activities around traditional festivals like Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as cultural practices and social visits. These carefully designed experiences aim to let international students not only earn their Chinese university degrees but also take away a genuine understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture. This is a vivid example of our college's philosophy of 'educating people through culture and nurturing people with literature.'
