On May 18, 2025, the 9th International Culture Festival under the theme “Harmony in Diversity, Dreams in Unity” commenced at the Aoxiang Student Center Plaza of NPU’s Chang’an Campus. Faculty and students from across the globe gathered for a vibrant celebration of multicultural exchange.
At the opening ceremony, international student representative Junyu Lu shared his experience as an English-speaking campus ambassador in promoting NPU’s stories and China’s narratives. Having organized numerous cultural and academic events, he highlighted how incorporating multicultural perspectives in academic competitions sparked innovation. “Treasure this global platform,” he urged, “and immerse yourselves in the richness of diverse cultures.” Chinese student representative Jiaqi Xi recounted her growth through collaborating with international peers in global competitions and cross-border exchanges. “Let cultural understanding become our shared language,” she advocated, “transforming us into interpreters of diversity and ambassadors of people-to-people connectivity.” Vice Dean Ziwei Li of the International College inspired attendees to “embrace inclusiveness, learn from and appreciate each other, achieve harmony in diversity, and march forward with shared dreams.” He emphasized the importance of studying global cultures to enhance cross-cultural competencies, nurturing students to become versatile talents in an interconnected world.
At 11:30, the stage performance kicked off with great enthusiasm. The Dragon and Lion martial arts team, composed of Chinese and foreign students, took the stage first with Dance of the Celestial Loong. Their agile leaps and bounds instantly ignited the entire venue. The Africa Star brought by African students, accompanied by the stirring drumbeats, showcased strength and passion to the fullest. Songs such as My Paper Plane and She Will Be Loved were deeply moving and pleasant to the ear. The fashion show jointly presented by students from various countries, with the interweaving of tradition and modernity, was truly admirable. In the afternoon, the Nine Strings Music Troupe’s Toxic was full of energy and dynamism. The Modern Cha-Cha from Mongolia was unrestrained and fervent, and the Central Asian ethnic dances exuded exotic charm. Finally, the closing song Arhbo pushed the atmosphere to its climax.
The cultural booths were like a world cultural expo garden. In the Asia section, the Indonesian booth’s crispy biscuits exchange and fun games, the hand-painting experience at the Pakistani booth, and the food and traditional clothing experience at the Central Asian booth were all unique and distinctive. In the Europe section, the table football from Germany and the traditional games from Russia were full of fun. In the Africa section, the drinks and strategy games from Botswana, and the folk displays from Ghana showcased exotic charm. In the Americas section, the bingo games and food from Mexico, and the Maya cultural experience from Central America attracted many teachers and students to stop and watch. The cultural passport stamp collection activity added more fun, and the generous prizes made the cultural journey full of pleasant surprises.
The International Cultural Festival of NPU has always adhered to the tenet of “Letting the world’s splendor shine on the campus and letting the national charm shine in the world.” The 9th International Cultural Festival has interpreted this concept to the full. It is not only a grand gathering of multiculturalism but also a bridge connecting the hearts of Chinese and foreign students. Here, different cultures collide and blend, giving off splendid radiance. It is believed that in the future, the International Cultural Festival will continue to play its unique role, promote the in-depth development of cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, help the university’s internationalization in education to make greater progress, and enable Chinese and foreign students to jointly create more splendors on the path of “harmony in diversity.”
Translator: Mei Leyun
Source: International College
