If you are a female student in Tianjin University (TJU), you would have probably already received your special bonus or enjoyed your priority on Girls’ Day, March 7th.

March 7th was a normal date for most people, but it has now been given a new meaning by unmarried Chinese girls and become "Girls' Day". It is said that they have chosen this date one day before "International Women's Day" to distinguish themselves from married women. These girls can enjoy their exclusive festival before maturing into fully-grown women and starting their careers. This special day was set up not to resist growing up, but in a sense, it was created to embody youth, vigor, and an independent and confident attitude to life for all girls, while it also represents men’s respect towards women and gender equality.

Although Girls’ Day is not an official festival, it is celebrated by most young Chinese, especially university students. Boys should go out of their way to spoil girls on this day, such as giving them endless flowers, buying them lunch or gifting those presents. Most importantly, ubiquitous red banners full of best wishes and love for the girls are hung around campus. If you have spent Girls’ Day in TJU, you will understand this is not an exaggeration.

Not only would boys, as classmates or boyfriends, prepare surprises for girls, but also the whole university arranges activities to celebrate the day. Every dining hall provided free snacks or fruit for girls. “We offer a discount and provide fresh fruit platters for all female students on Girls’ Day. You know, they will head out into the world in the near future, I hope this special day they spent on campus will leave them with sweet memories.” A dining hall manager told us.

“I didn’t really know about Girls’ Day until I came to TJU. Girls’ Day really makes me feel like a princess! Our male classmates sent us flowers today: being a girl in TJU is very lucky” said a female student in Zhu Yuan. Sitting on special reserved seats for girls, she was given a free banana as a gift from a member of staff. In addition, Qing Yuan prepared free healthy drinks, such as date juice and soybean milk for the girls.

In the afternoon, a garden party was held in Qi Yuan, right beside the girls’ dormitories. Various activities attracted many students to attend. They all took an active part in the available games and won a lot of prizes to take home with them.

For girls who are about to enter the job market, Tianjin University, Tianjin’s Women's Federation and other organizations cooperatively held a campus job fair which promoted vacant posts targeted mostly at girls on Girls’ Day.

After this Girls’ Day, the relationship between girls and boys in TJU has become more harmonious. Girls in TJU get tons of warm greetings due to small amount. This Girls’ Day has helped to promote mutual understanding and friendship between young men and women.

By: Wang Huiting

Photo: Wang Huiting and TWT

Editors: Qin Mian and Christopher Peter Clarke