2025 Confucius Cultural Week: Strengthening Bonds Between Chinese and International Students at BNU
The Office of International Exchange and Cooperation at Beijing Normal University (BNU) hosted the “2025 Confucius Culture Week for Chinese and International Students” from September 22 to 25, 2025, in Jining, Shandong. The event featured a variety of cultural experiences, traditional practices, sports competitions, and interactive activities that incorporated modern technology. This initiative sought to deepen international students’ understanding of Chinese culture, facilitate connections with their Chinese counterparts, and exemplify the values of Beijing Normal University.
Team-Building Activities
On the morning of September 22, students from various regions convened at the gymnasium of Shandong Polytechnic College for team-building activities themed “Uniting Teachers and Students, Building Friendship Between China and the World.” Participants engaged in traditional challenges, including pitch-pot, land dragon boat racing, cuju goal shooting, long-rope skipping, and cooperative drum beating, which aimed to encourage teamwork and cultural engagement through competition.
Pickleball Learning Session
In the afternoon, students had the opportunity to learn about pickleball, including the sport’s origins and techniques such as serving, returning, dinking, and volleying. This activity was designed to combine sports and cultural understanding, allowing students to enhance their skills through friendly matches.
Traditional Chinese Food Culture Experience
A traditional Chinese food culture experience took place on the evening of September 23, with the theme “Medicine and Food Share the Same Origin: Chinese and International Students Discuss Health.” The program featured hands-on cooking, live demonstrations, and interactive games, enabling participants to prepare traditional dishes like glutinous rice balls and mooncakes. Additionally, demonstrations by national intangible cultural heritage inheritors included traditional medicinal paste preparation and herbal tea making.
Visit to Confucian Heritage Sites
On September 24, students visited Confucian heritage sites, including the Confucius Temple, the Kong Family Mansion, and Nishan Sacred Land in Qufu. They participated in a traditional ceremony honoring teachers at the Confucius Temple and gained insights into Confucian philosophy and family governance at the Kong Family Mansion.
The Grassland Concert
The Grassland Concert on the evening of September 24 showcased performances by both Chinese and international students. The event promoted intercultural communication through a variety of performances, including singing, dancing, poetry recitations, and traditional folk performances, under the theme “Harmony in Diversity, Resonance Through Music and Virtue.”
Cultural Heritage Education and Closing Ceremony
The final day of activities, September 25, focused on intangible cultural heritage education, with opportunities to explore traditional arts such as dough modeling, silversmithing, Chinese painting, and calligraphy.
The closing ceremony, held on the afternoon of September 25, included 134 participants from 49 countries. The ceremony highlighted notable participants and underscored the importance of cultural exchange through art, sports, and traditional practices. Many international students at BNU expressed their intention to share the knowledge and experiences gained during Cultural Week with their peers, reinforcing the concept of mutual learning and cross-cultural understanding.
Source: Beijing Normal University
