East China Normal University's Global Education Center hosted the third Traditional Chinese Culture Carnival this October. The garden party featured 10 cultural experience sessions, offering international students an immersive journey into China's traditional culture and heritage.

In the traditional folk games zone, students took part in shuttlecock kicking, hoop rolling, hopscotch, and top spinning under the guidance of instructors, discovering the fun and wisdom behind these time-honored Chinese folk pastimes.

In the Chinese tea ceremony and tasting session, students held teapots, poured, and savored the tea, appreciating the Eastern philosophy behind the practice: "tea is like life."

The cross-talk club delighted audiences with classic, humorous performances. In the relaxed and cheerful interactions, students learned to play the bamboo clappers and explored the humorous Chinese expressions amid laughter and applause.

The traditional Chinese instrument transformed the classroom into an "Eastern Concert Hall." The ECNU Chinese music orchestra performed on traditional instruments, including pipa, guzheng, and horsehead fiddle. Students also took the stage to try their hands at playing these traditional instruments, experiencing the unique charm of Chinese music.

In the Chinese shadow puppetry session, intangible cultural heritage inheritor Yin Zhiping demonstrated puppet manipulation behind a screen and taught students how to paint their own shadow puppets. With brushes in hand, they created their own characters.

The students also experienced mahjong. After learning the rules, they engaged in the fun and tactics of the game through moves like "chow," "pung," and "hu", accompanied by the sound of tiles clicking together.

During the Chinese knot session, students learned to weave threads into exquisite knots, learning the blessings and sentiments behind each creation.

In the Chinese calligraphy session, an instructor demonstrated brush-holding techniques and explained the structure and artistry of Chinese characters. Students practiced calligraphy, experiencing the tranquility and strength embodied in each stroke.

The carnival also included a Chinese dialect session, where students were introduced to various dialects from Shanghai, Northeastern China, Sichuan, and Henan. Through imitation, they gained an appreciation for the diversity of China's regional cultures.

The event concluded with a unique culinary session. Guided by chefs, some students prepared fillings and wrapped dumplings in various shapes, while others observed the cooking of classic Chinese home dishes such as scrambled eggs with tomatoes and Kung Pao chicken. Participants then gathered to share and savor the self-made Chinese delicacies.

Source: Official WeChat account of Global Education Center of ECNU at "ecnugec"