The East China Normal University hosted its 18th International Cultural Festival on Nov 6 at its campus in Shanghai's Putuo district, featuring booths from 75 countries across five continents at the festival's trademark Mini Expo, stage performances and a degree award ceremony for international student alumni from the classes of 2020 to 2023.

This edition of Mini Expo featured the highest number of national booths in history, showcasing each country's unique culture. International students warmly introduced the customs and traditions of their countries, while various fun-filled games and knowledge quizzes allowed participants to immerse themselves in the unique flavors of different cultures in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Visitors eagerly collected stamps at each booth, and upon collecting stamps from all booths, they received exquisite gifts.

The stage performances were filled with exotic charm as international students from countries such as the United States, Belarus, Japan, South Korea, Peru and Vietnam delivered energetic performances, showcasing the cultural characteristics of their respective nations, enabling the audience to travel through time and experience the enchanting realms of these distant lands.

Huang Meixu, director of the International Education Center at East China Normal University, addressed at the opening ceremony that the International Cultural Festival is not just a sensory feast but also a collision of ideas and cultures, creating a shared cultural space for the university, faculty, students and the surrounding community.

Ye Simin, an undergraduate student from the International Institute of Chinese Language and Culture in Egypt, shared her study abroad journey on stage, expressing her love and gratitude towards the ECNU family.

The ECNU International Cultural Festival has been successfully held for 18 consecutive years, becoming a distinctive and innovatively developed classic cultural brand. This year's cultural festival, themed "Dreaming Together", continued to celebrate the campus's multicultural integration, injecting new vitality into building a more open, inclusive and diverse campus cultural environment.

The university's President Qian Xuhong, together with alumni, witnessed the return of international student alumni from the classes of 2020 to 2023 for a degree award ceremony. Altogether 110 alumni reunited on campus, donning graduation gowns and receiving their degree certificates.

In the fall of 2024, the university welcomed over 1,200 new international students.

Source: East China Normal University