To further promote cultural exchanges between China and other countries and enhance international students’ understanding of China’s outstanding cultural heritage, the School of International Education organized a series of solar-term culture and folk custom experience activities on April 8. The event was held simultaneously at the Chang’an Campus and the Chinese Language Center in Kazan, Russia, bringing together over a hundred international students and Chinese language teachers to immerse themselves in the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture.
The event unfolded around spring solar terms such as “Spring Equinox (4th solar term),” “Pure Brightness (5th solar term),” and “Grain Rain (6th solar teram).” The cultural instructor used vivid images and videos to explain the profound connection between the 24 solar terms and China’s agrarian civilization as well as natural philosophy, showcasing the Chinese wisdom of “harmony between humans and nature.” Students enthusiastically shared seasonal customs from their home countries, appreciating cultural diversity and mutual understanding through exchange. During the subsequent “Solar Term Poetry Recital,” participants read classic poems like Happy Rain on a Spring Night and Village Life, immersing themselves in the timeless beauty of spring through rhythmic verses.
During the intangible cultural heritage experience session, the cultural instructor demonstrated the traditional craftsmanship and symbolic meanings of handmade kites. The goldfish represents “leaping to success,” while the sand swallow symbolizes “spring’s return to the land.” Teachers and students then painted their own blessings onto the fluttering paper kites.
Meanwhile, at the Chinese Language Center of Kazan National Research Technical University in Russia, the soothing fragrance of mugwort filled the air. Under teachers’ guidance, students kneaded dough, wrapped fillings, and crafted delicate green rice balls (qingtuan), experiencing the Qingming Festival tradition that embodies harmony between humans and nature.
Solar term culture is not only a crystallization of traditional Chinese wisdom but also a window into understanding China. As part of the “China in the Classics” cultural education series for international students, this event used solar terms as a medium and hands-on experiences as a bridge, allowing students to appreciate the beauty of Chinese culture and fostering deeper people-to-people connections. The School of International Education will continue innovating cultural education methods to cultivate more international talents who understand and cherish China.
Source: NPU News
Translator: Mei Leyun
