The autumn breeze brings a refreshing coolness, and the fragrance of osmanthus fills the air. As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, the School of International Education(SIE) at Tianjin Chengjian University organised a traditional Chinese culture experience event entitled ‘The Bright Moon Embodies Ancient Charm, Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Unity’. The School’s leadership team, Chinese language teachers, student counsellors and over 30 student representatives from China and abroad—including students from Yemen, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Morocco and Madagascar—gathered together to share in a cultural celebration that transcended national boundaries.
At the start of the event, the Chinese language teachers used a combination of text and images to eloquently recount the legends surrounding the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the cultural significance of moon-gazing and family reunions. Li Jia, Secretary of the Directly Affiliated Party Branch of the School of International Education, and Wang Xiao, Dean of the School, delivered bilingual Mid-Autumn Festival greetings on behalf of the School. They encouraged both Chinese and international students to appreciate the charm of China’s outstanding traditional culture, to strive to become young ambassadors of cultural exchange, and to build bridges of friendship that foster mutual understanding and connection amongst young people from different countries.
|
|
The gentle strains of the guqin slowly filled the air, immersing the audience in a classical and poetic atmosphere. Chinese and international students took to the stage together to perform <The Sound of Study from the Four Seas Invites the Bright Moon>, an adaptation of a timeless classic. With the melodious strains of the guqin and the clear, resonant vocals, this elegant gathering of guqin music and song—presented jointly by Chinese and international teachers and students, alongside artists from the Tianjin Qixian Guqin Academy and the Xiqing University for the Elderly—offered international students in China an audiovisual feast blending the ancient and the modern, earning unceasing applause from the audience.
|
|
At the end of the event, Chinese and international students gathered round a long table to savour the sweet mooncakes, amidst a constant chorus of laughter and cheerful chatter. The international students experienced the unique charm of this traditional Chinese festival with every bite, whilst also feeling the warmth of the ‘Tianchengda(天城大)’ family amidst the festive atmosphere of reunion.
Leon, a representative of international students from the Republic of Amba, and Hangal from Mongolia expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the university and the faculty for their care and support. They said: “By taking part in this Mid-Autumn Festival cultural experience, we have been immersed in the unique charm of this traditional Chinese festival. Although we are in a foreign country, we have truly felt the warmth of the ‘Tianchengda(天城大)’ family. We will cherish our time at university all the more, deepening our specialist knowledge and broadening our international horizons, whilst actively taking on the role of young ambassadors for cultural exchange between China and other nations, and telling compelling stories of mutual learning between civilisations.”
In mid-to-late October, the university will welcome experts conducting a re-accreditation review of the quality of higher education for international students in China. This traditional Chinese cultural experience event serves as a vivid illustration of the university’s success in educating international students. The university has always attached great importance to international student education and continues to strengthen the ‘Study at Tianchengda(天城大)’ brand. To date, international students have come from a cumulative total of 43 countries; in 2021, the university successfully passed the Ministry of Education’s Quality Certification for Higher Education for International Students in China; it successfully hosted the Ministry of Education’s 2023 ‘Chinese Bridge’ and ‘Chinese + Vocational Skills’ online group exchange programmes; and in 2025, the ‘Guqin Xiange’ Base was approved as a national-level ‘Base for Social Practice Activities for Chinese and Foreign Youth’. The education of international students has thus achieved leapfrog development, progressing from nothing to something, and from something to excellence.
Moving forward, the university will continue to uphold the principle of ‘nurturing students through beauty and culture’. Using cultural experience activities as a vehicle, it will enrich the campus life of international students, foster a deep understanding of, friendship towards and affection for China, and diligently strengthen educational management and services. By continuously enhancing the quality of education for international students in China, the university will contribute to the high-quality development of its international student education programmes.
