On September 20th, international students from Shanghai Business School were invited to participate in the special Mid-Autumn Festival event “Full Moon, Global Gathering” hosted by the Fengxian Exit-Entry Administration. The event encompassed various segments including an introduction to the traditional festival, anti-fraud education, a hands-on mooncake making workshop, a garden party with lantern riddle guessing, and a dome theater film screening.
Staff from the Fengxian Exit-Entry Administration provided the international students with a detailed introduction to the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival, traditional customs, and the cultural significance behind the holiday. Officers from the Fengxian Police Station conducted a unique anti-fraud education lecture at the event using self-made videos, introducing common scam tactics and prevention methods to help the students better protect their personal property safety.
The hands-on mooncake making workshop was a highlight of the event. Under the guidance of professional baking instructors, the international students personally made traditional Chinese mooncakes. Every step, from kneading the dough and wrapping the filling to shaping and baking, was full of enjoyment. During the process, the students not only learned the skills of making mooncakes but also deepened their appreciation for Chinese culinary culture through interaction.
Colorful slips of paper with riddles hanging under the lanterns attracted the students to stop and ponder. The riddles covered various aspects of Chinese history, culture, geography, and more, being both entertaining and educational. The international students actively participated, discussing and exchanging ideas with each other, further understanding Chinese culture through the process of solving the puzzles.
This special “Full Moon, Global Gathering” event not only created an immersive cultural feast for the international students but also served as one of the cultural infiltration activities for the “Business Charm Silk Road” brand building. The event skillfully integrated traditional festive elements with the spirit of Silk Road culture, allowing students from around the world to genuinely experience the profound heritage and contemporary charm of Chinese culture amidst laughter and joy. The international students expressed that this event not only allowed them to celebrate a warm and unforgettable Mid-Autumn Festival in advance but also deepened their understanding of Chinese history, folklore, and values through interactive communication. They not only gained knowledge and friendship but also found cross-border emotional resonance in the concept of “civilizational exchange and mutual learning, and people-to-people connectivity” advocated by the “Business Charm Silk Road”. Several students admitted that this would become one of the warmest and most precious memories of their study abroad experience in China.
The “Business Charm Silk Road” brand, as one of the university’s international education initiatives, uses culture as a bond and exchange as a bridge, continuously promoting empathy and integration among Chinese and foreign youth through traditional festivals and diverse activities. It not only enhances the cultural sense of belonging among the international student community but also injects youthful vitality into telling China's stories well and spreading the Silk Road spirit, further solidifying the public foundation for people-to-people exchanges within the “Belt and Road” initiative.
Written by: Li Zixi
Photographed by: Li Zixi
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
