PHBS embraces diversity at International Culture Day

PHBS students celebrate at the award-winning Uzbekistan booth, named “Best Designed Booth” at Peking University Shenzhen’s International Culture Day in Nanshan’s Xili University Town on Sunday. Courtesy of PHBS

A cold snap and drizzle Sunday afternoon failed to dampen the vibrant atmosphere at the Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School campus in Nanshan's Xili University Town, where students and visitors gathered for the annual International Culture Day hosted by Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS).

At the site, over 30 booths representing diverse countries and regions, including Russia, France, Sweden, Italy, South Korea, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Brazil and multiple regions in China, proudly showcased their signature foods, drinks, music, games and cultural traditions. Visitors of various nationalities eagerly sampled treats, interacted with presenters, learned about different traditions, and collected stamps in special event "passports."

French student Héloïse (L) and classmates welcome visitors at their vibrant booth during Sunday’s event. Photos by Yang Mei unless otherwise stated

The French booth was one of the most eye-catching and popular ones not only for their baguettes, croissants, and football culture display, but also for featuring a live rooster to entertain visitors and enhance their understanding of the Gallic rooster — a powerful French national symbol.

Clad in a red beret and a long black woolen coat, Héloïse, a French master’s student in management at PHBS, told Shenzhen Daily that they had prepared for the event for over a month, which involved partnering with a local bakery for partnership, decorating the booths and brainstorming interactive games to better promote French culture. “For example, we display pictures showing different regions of France and ask visitors to guess their locations,” Héloïse told Shenzhen Daily. "Chinese people may know France because of Paris, but we wanted to show its diversity, so they might consider visiting other areas.”

Beyond promoting French culture, Héloïse views the event as a great opportunity to learn about other cultures and connect with others. “It’s a chance to explore cultures I didn’t know before,” she said. "I recently discovered Uzbek culture because I have a few friends from there... I didn't know anything about the country before and now I really love it." Despite the challenging weather, she praised the lively energy. "I’m really thrilled people braved the cold. The best part is everyone enjoying themselves together.”

The French booth captivates crowds with its live rooster, Gallic symbols, and Parisian charm.

Francesca Di Credico, an Italian exchange student at PHBS, shared that her team also prepared for weeks, focusing on authentic food and decorations. "The hardest part is food because you really don’t want to bring something cliché," Di Credico explained. "Also, we made the decorations ourselves, so it took longer." Collaborating with an Italian restaurant in University Town, their booth served delicacies such as pasta, mortadella focaccia, and tiramisu.

Alongside the food, the booth featured guessing games with pictures of Italian landmarks and common gestures. To offer a unique experience, they used VR glasses to immerse visitors in the story of Marco Polo. Participating for the first time, Di Credico found the event “a perfect platform to share our culture and learn about China’s.”

Italian student Francesca Di Credico (L) and her schoolmate explain the inspiration behind the booth’s celebration of Italy’s culinary heritage.

Emma, a Moroccan student from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and a member of the Z10 Club, visited the event for the first time with a friend and found the event both fun and meaningful. She shared with Shenzhen Daily that she loved the Myanmar booth the most. “We tried the Burmese food, clothing and makeup, which are very interesting,” she said. 

“I think the cultural event means a lot because we get to see people from different perspectives. We can learn about their culture. And if we learn about their culture, we learn about them,” Emma added.

In the final judging, the booths representing Shandong and Henan provinces were named “Best Food Booth.” The Brazil booth won “Most Popular Booth,” and the Uzbekistan booth was recognized as “Best Designed Booth.”

Visitors flock to the Swedish booth to sample Nordic delicacies and learn about Scandinavian traditions.

According to PHBS, the university hosts over 120 international faculty and students (including 104 students) from France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other regions. Launched in 2023, the International Culture Day has become a flagship event fostering cultural exchange between Chinese and international communities.

Visitors visit the German booth.