On the afternoon of July 8, 2024, the Ninth "Zhihong" Advanced Materials International Summer School's Cultural Festival was successfully held in the Yiucheng lecture hall of Xu Zuyao Building at the School of Materials Science and Engineering. With meticulous planning by volunteers and active participation of both Chinese and international students, more than 30 students from eight countries, including Russia, Serbia, Australia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Japan, Singapore, and China, gathered together to present as well as enjoy a dazzling audio-visual feast. They showcased their own national cultures while also promoting cultural exchanges between the Chinese and international students.
The cultural festival was hosted by Chinese student Fu Zhengyang and Kazakhstani student Merey Sembay.
Figure 1: The hosts open the event.
Firstly, Chinese student Yang Ziqi performed the rap song "Midnight Heartbreak in Taipei," which marked the official opening of the cultural festivals.
Figure 2: Chinese student Yang Ziqi performing.
Next, Chinese student Liu Yixiao sang the song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
Figure 3: Chinese student Liu Yixiao performing.
Then, everyone participated in the "Musical Chairs" game segment, where participants advanced through rounds by following the music and sitting down when the numbers "10-6-3-1" were called out. There were a total of two rounds, with Kazakhstani student Tomiris Zhumagaliyeva and Chinese student Zhang Yi winning the championships respectively.
Figure 4: The "Musical Chairs" game segment.
After the game, Chinese students Xu Keran, Zhang Yujie, and Ye Xiatong, Russian students Cholokidi Margarita, Boichenko Aleksei, Orekhov Alexey, and Ozhegov Mikhail, and Kazakhstani student Zhaniya Kali performed the song "Lemon Tree," leading to a group sing.
Figure 5: Chinese and international students singing together.
Then, Chinese student Zhong Xinwei demonstrated Chinese soft brush calligraphy by writing the character "Fu" (meaning "blessing"), and inspired foreign students to try it out. They exhibited great learning ability and achieved satisfactory results.
Figure 6: Chinese student Zhong Xinwei demonstrating calligraphy.
Figure 7: Foreign students collectively experiencing Chinese calligraphy.
After that, five students from Kazakhstan-Tangsulu Adil, Merey Sembay, Tomiris Zhumagaliyeva, Zhaniya Kali, and Asset Aliyev-brought a choral performance of the national song "Bir Uyi'ndagyn Balasinda," expressing the beautiful vision of unity and communication among the peoples of the world.
Figure 8: Kazakhstani students singing in chorus.
Finally, students collectively attempted to make handmade lanterns. During this time, students including Wang Han, Margarita, Aliyev, and others, shared the special cuisines of Shaanxi, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other regions. Amidst the joyous atmosphere, the cultural festival gradually drew to a close.
Figure 9: Group photo with self-made lanterns.
The cultural festival is a traditional highlight of the "Zhihong" International Summer School and has been successfully held for eight consecutive years. Chinese and international students utilize the cultural festival as a platform to engage in dialogue about the distinctive cultures of multiple countries and ethnic groups, to gain a deeper understanding of each other, and to create unforgettable memories.