SZU festival integrates world's diverse cultures

Students from 26 countries spanning five continents convened at the Seventh International Cultural Festival of Shenzhen University on Saturday to showcase the unique cultures of their respective nations and engage in cultural exchanges with peers from around the globe.

Students perform a dance at the festival. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen University

During his opening address, Zhang Xueji, vice president of Shenzhen University, emphasized the festival’s significance as an annual cultural exchange platform. He highlighted how the event allows international students to exhibit their distinct cultural practices while offering teachers and students a glimpse into the diversity of world cultures. Furthermore, Zhang noted that it serves as a dynamic window to present traditional Chinese culture to international students in engaging and immersive ways.

Zhang Xueji, vice president of Shenzhen University, delivers an opening speech.

The festival, themed around national flowers and delectable cuisines, saw students from diverse nations establishing stalls to exhibit their countries’ signature foods, games, arts, crafts, and traditional attire. Attendees, equipped with special passports, roamed between stalls, collecting stickers of various national flowers, sampling delicacies, and participating in games to experience the distinctive features of different cultures.

International students sample delicacies from different nations at the cultural festival.

Chinese and international students from seven universities in Guangdong Province, such as Shenzhen University, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, and South China Normal University, delivered performances showcasing traditional dances and songs with unique national cultural traits.

Students revel in the after party.

Concluding the festival, an after party took place. Participants were singing and dancing together, sharing the day’s joy and achievements. As they relished delicious dishes, they also immersed themselves in the cultural essences of various nations, fostering deeper understandings and respect for multiculturalism.