On September 14th, as the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, over 100 international students from 20 countries, including France, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Rwanda, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom, participated in a cultural immersion experience organized by the School of International Education at SCMU. The students visited a rural village, toured the Huanglong Lake Tea Museum, experienced Chinese tea culture, and engaged in mooncake-making activities, allowing them to deeply appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese culture.
“The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday rich in cultural significance. It not only reflects the importance Chinese people place on family reunions but also embodies the essence of kinship and friendship”, explained Yulan from Vietnam and Guan Chengjin from Indonesia to their fellow students. At the beginning of the event, international student representatives introduced the origins, customs, and cultural connotations of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as the history of Huanglong Lake, where the tea museum is located.
At the Makou Pottery Culture Heritage Base in Huanglong Lake, students visited the tea culture museum, learned about pottery art, and savored Chinese tea. In the tea experience area, international students gathered around long tables, learning the etiquette of serving and tasting tea under the guidance of tea masters. “This is my first time drinking tea in China. The taste is excellent, with a floral aroma”, said Jiang Shaya, a student from Kazakhstan. Aliya, a 2024 Kazakh student, tasted Pu’er tea and showed great interest in tea culture. She commented, “We tasted Pu’er tea, which has a slight bitterness at first, followed by a sweet aftertaste. The teacher called this returning sweetness’. Students listened attentively to the tea master’s introduction, appreciating the unique charm of Chinese tea culture through the integrated concept of “tea culture, tea industry, and tea technology”.
International students visit Huanglong Lake Tea Culture Museum. Photo by Lu Lan
Gathered around round tables, they learned to make mooncakes under the host’s guidance. They kneaded the dough, added fillings, and pressed the mixture into molds, creating flower-patterned mooncakes. Yang Miao, a 2022 undergraduate from Kyrgyzstan, happily held up her mooncake, saying, “I love Chinese culture. This is my first time making mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I’m thrilled to taste what I made myself”.
International students learn to make mooncakes. Photo by Lu Lan
The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of China’s four major traditional festivals, symbolizes reunion, harmony, and happiness. This year’s festival coincided with the opening of the Yangtze River Culture and Art Season in Wuhan. Students not only experienced excellent traditional Chinese culture but also fostered friendships with peers from various countries in the joyful festival atmosphere. Sun Hao, a 2024 freshman from Rwanda, expressed, “I learned about Mid-Autumn Festival customs and tasted mooncakes while studying at a Confucius Institute. I’m delighted to spend this festive holiday in China with students from different countries and make mooncakes ourselves. It’s wonderful! I’ve made many new friends and learned a lot about traditional Chinese festival customs. I’ve taken many photos to share my life in China with family and friends back home”.
On September 13th, international students also visited the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge and Hubu Alley, experiencing the beauty of Chinese culture through scenic views and delicious food.
