On Feb 15, international students of Voice of Overseas Students, a new media studio of Huaqiao University (HQU), celebrated Lantern Festival in Fujian-Taiwan Youth Lantern Festival Culture Experience Camp and Lantern Festival Gala for Overseas Chinese Students in Fujian. The camp was hosted by Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and organized by Fujian Provincial Office of Fujian-Taiwan Cultural Exchanges, and the gala was hosted by Returned Overseas Chinese Federation of Xiamen and organized by Youth Commission of Xiamen Indonesia Returned Overseas Chinese Association.

The two events were a new and enjoyable folk culture experience for these HQU students. In Xiamen, they had fun playing the lantern riddle games, making Tang Yuan (Chinese glutinous rice balls), and singing new year songs. In Quanzhou, they enjoyed Nanyin (local musical art inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO ) and the lantern show, and making boneless festive lanterns. In Zhangzhou, they learned about Chinese dragon culture in the historic Longchang Tulou (earthen building) through making dragon lanterns, joining the celebratory parade and setting off fireworks to express their wishes and hopes for the future of both sides of the Taiwan Strait. They captured many pleasant moments with their cameras and shared them on domestic and international media platforms to showcase the Chinese folk culture.

Making Dragon Lanterns and Learning Dragon Dance

Dancing Around Bonfires in Tulou

Shooting Short Videos

Xiamen Star Reporting the Event

Heads of Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Fujian Provincial Office of Fujian-Taiwan Cultural Exchanges, Returned Overseas Chinese Federation of Xiamen, Bureau of Culture, Broadcasting, Television and Tourism of Quanzhou, Jinjiang Municipal Government, and Haisi Charity Federation attended the event. The hosts expected that it could be a great opportunity for international students to appreciate the charm of Chinese culture and that Fujian and Taiwan youth could further mutual understanding and promote traditional Chinese culture.

(Editor: Caijuntao)