Want to travel around the world in just one day? Then you shouldn’t have missed the 10th International Cultural Festival at Tianjin University (TJU), which is also called the “little Expo”. This cultural extravaganza, which brought together people from about 50 nationalities learning in TJU, was held on Saturday, May 6th at Peiyang Square on Weijin Road 92th. This is the tenth year that the International Students Cultural Festival has wowed students from across campus, and this year’s topic was “Study in TJU, love school, honor school.” Being open to all visitors, this activity attracted thousands people to Tianjin University.

The festival is held every year and TJU has seen an increase in participation from the students and community year on year. Over the course of ten years, the festival has served to bring cultural awareness to the campus and its surrounding area through the art of music and dance. It has promoted the importance of friendly national exchanges while partnering this with cultural acceptance. The aim of this exhibition is to remind us that we live in a global society. It’s our unshakable responsibility to participate in this historical mission to promote world peace through advancing mutual understanding between nations.

Being diverse and inclusive, Tianjin University was one of the first Chinese universities to accept International students. The international students in TJU have various ethnic backgrounds. There are currently over two thousand international students coming from over one hundred countries studying in TJU. They come from Asia, Africa, Europe and America. Their distinct cultural backgrounds create a harmonious and diverse atmosphere on campus.

The International Cultural Festival contained three parts. The first part was the opening ceremony and performances. In the opening ceremony, Mao Dongmin, the Deputy Commissioner of the overseas student section of the National Bureau of Education of China congratulated TJU on its successful hosting of this international cultural festival. Zhong Denghua, the president of TJU officially declared the opening of this festival. Then the performances began. International students showed their traditional costumes, music and dance to audiences. Students from Malaysia, Cambodia and Chad performed a poetry recital “I love this land—China”. Their deep feelings moved everyone in the audience. At the end of this performance was a fashion show of different ethnic traditional costumes. Together they held a display board on which was written “I love China, I love TJU”.

International students showing their love to TJU. [Photo/Tianjin University]

The second part of this festival was a photo exhibition of national customs, while the third part was exhibiting world food. Tianjin University celebrated the diversity of the city through food, music, dance performances, art and sports. Peiyang Square hosted more than 50 stalls that included food delicacies from different nations, clothing, cultural artifacts, and sports events. Some visitors enjoyed the face painting and delicious snacks, while the others delved into the live performances and danced to the tunes of different ethnic music. With trays of food lining every stall, visitors could jump from country to country through food choices. Even rice here was provided in different forms, such as Samoan rice, South Korean rice, Bangladesh pilaf and Laos rice. You can also taste coffee from Saudi Arabia or Kenya and traditional snacks from Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand, Burma, Chile and so on. Different vendors were decorated regarding to different national features. You could take a photo with a “Pharaoh” before a “Pyramid”, or you could chat with a “Saudi Prince” in his tent.

A “Pharaoh” taking pictures with a visitor before a “Pyramid”. [Photo/Tianjin University]

The reds, greens, whites, and blues of national flags waved to greet the incoming visitors of the International Cultural Festival. Students and staff members gathered to appreciate the diversity of food, music, and the art of dance from different countries. This experience was unique and exciting. “I have taken a lot of pictures here, this festival has far-reaching educational meaning both to me and my 6-year-old girl. TJU is like a miniature melting pot. It has given me this chance to watch different styles of music and dance.” Said a visitor, a mother who brought her daughter to participate in the festival.

International students from Madagascar touting their traditional food. [Photo/Tianjin University]

The International Cultural Festival has ended. However, aside from a full stomach, all audiences have learned a valuable lesson about acceptance and the appreciation of different cultures outside of their own. TJU has reinforced the bridge which connects international students and Chinese students and raised public awareness of multiculturalism through this festival. In the future, TJU will provide more platforms for students to promote modernization and internationalization.

By: Wang Huiting

Photo: Wang Huiting

Editors: Qin Mian and Christopher Peter Clarke