Organizers at the Live Event 

Russian and Kazakhstani Folk Dance 

Bangladeshi Hip Fusionists

International Students Experienced Chinese Sugar Painting

(A Traditional Chinese Folk Handicraft)

 The Calligraphy Works Completed by Our Students and Teachers 

Attendees at the Live Event

On the morning of November 4th, the 9th International Culture Festival of China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) was grandly opened in the gymnasium of Nanhu Campus. The World Is A Big and Happy Family themed International Culture Festival is organized to promote mutual understanding and respect between Chinese and foreign teachers and students, as well as to build a multicultural environment at CUMT.

Zhang Wanhai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of CUMT, Minister of the Organisation Department and Minister of the United Front Work Department of CUMT, Dong Haining, Secretary of the Party Committee of the International College of Jiangsu Normal University, and Zhang Yang, Vice Dean of the School of International Education of Xuzhou Medical University, attended this ceremony. They were accompanied by representatives from the Propaganda Department of Party Committee, the Communist Youth League, the International Office, the International Students Affairs Office, the Security Office, as well as the International College of CUMT.

During this ceremony, Zhang Wanhai announced officially the opening of the 9th International Culture Festival. Then, Wu Gefei, Dean of the International College and Director of International Student Management Office, delivered an opening speech.

In the field of exhibition, 32 national stands were meticulously constructed by almost 1,000 of our students from University of Science and Technology of China, Harbin Engineering University, Northeast Forestry University, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou University of Technology. These stands fully displayed traditional costumes, crafts, food and other specialties of various countries’ culture, which attracted nearly 10,000 teachers and students to experience the exotic cultures and taste the special food. At the same time, four Chinese traditional culture experience zones were set up, including paper fan calligraphy, Xuzhou perfumed medicine pouches, sugar figure blowing art, and Luo mo san zi (a genre of Chinese pancake with deep-fried noodle). These attractions have drawn a lot of teachers and students who were eagerly lining up to appreciate them.

On the stage of performances, over a hundred Chinese and international students joined together to show their exceptional talents, which provided the audience with an audio-visual feast. The show was opened by a Chinese traditional show dragon and lion dance. Afterwards, there were six brilliant group dances, including the Uzbek group dance Andijan Polka, the Russian duo dance The Girl and the Sea, the Southeast Asian group dance Beautiful Southeast Asia, the Bangladeshi group dance Bangladeshi Hip Fusionists, the Pakistani group dance Pakistani Cultural Dance, the Ghanaian Zimbabwean group dance African Afrobeat.

The glamour of Chinese culture was fully demonstrated by Chinese students’ performances, including the group dance The Chapter Composed by Chinese Dragon Rhythm, the song Nian Nujiao - Mid-Autumn Festival, the martial arts performance Ode to the Ancient World, the rap Kylin, and the classical dance Qing Shan Fu. Moreover, the Chinese and foreign chorus of Chinese under Bright Light and The Night I Miss You, the Russian students’ solo Blue Lotus, and the Thai chorus To Love Frankly also have received a great applause.

Steeped in history, CUMT International Culture Festival has been held annually since 2013. During the past ten years, the wonderful exhibitions of national customs, unique traditional programs from different countries and diversified interactive activities have enhanced mutual understanding and respect between Chinese and foreign youths. This also helps built up a Let the World Know CUMT, and Let CUMT Know the World cultural integration platform. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and Building A Human Community Concept, the 9th International Culture Festival tells a good Chinese story in a form that is popular among young students. This way, many international students in China can experience the traditional Chinese culture and showcase the colorful cultures of various countries.

A series of cultural activities will follow the opening ceremony, such as the Chinese Traditional Culture Experience Tour, the Photography and Painting Competition for Chinese and Foreign Students and the Chinese Language Competition for International Students. Let’s stay tuned for these activities, which will last until the end of December.

Text by: You Shi, Yin yuyue

Photos by: Zhang Tongren

Editor: Li Juming

Reviewed by: Liu Yao