On June 12, the 10th International Student Cultural Festival of Lanzhou Jiaotong University kicked off. Themed with “The Melody of the Yellow River, Sung by Five Continents — Harmony, Amity, and Unity”, the event consists of food exhibition and cultural performances, offering a cross-cultural feast for LZJTU faculty and students.

Food Exhibition: A Culinary Journey Around the World

International students from around the world set up over 30 specialty food stalls, offering faculty and students a culinary journey around the globe.

At the Laos stall, students dressed in traditional attire enthusiastically introduced the local sticky rice and green papaya salad to everyone. Thai milk tea attracted many students to stop and taste it. At the Vietnamese booth, spring rolls and rice noodles drew long lines, as students eagerly tried this authentic Southeast Asian flavor.

The Afghan booth filled the air with the aroma of grilled meat, while the Mongolian booth offered rich milk tea cheese and specialty dairy products. Sudanese foreign teachers and international students prepared fragrant porridge paired with crispy fried bread. At the Chad booth, spicy-spiced grilled fish skewers offered a taste of the rugged flavors of sub-Saharan Africa. Guinean students served a slow-cooked vegetable and lamb stew with peanut sauce, showcasing the culinary wisdom of West Africa. Turkmenistan international students served steaming hot hand-pulled lamb rice, with golden, glossy rice wrapped around large pieces of lamb, and the fragrance of Samarkand spices filling the air. Each booth was crowded with teachers and students eager to taste the delicacies, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.

Besides the culinary experience, the event featured multiple interactive game zones. Participants collected stamps by completing game tasks, which could be redeemed for beautiful souvenirs.

Cultural Performances: A Colorful Chapter of the World in Motion

International students from 37 countries held their national flags and kicked off the event with an energetic opening performance. As the music played, the flags of various countries swirled on the stage, forming a sea of color, symbolizing the exchanges of culture from all five continents along the banks of the Yellow River.

Zhang Guojin, Dean of School of International Education, delivered an enthusiastic speech. She said that, “The Cultural Festival is an important platform for us to practice the concept of ‘harmony and unity’. Students from all corners of the globe gather here, using culture as a medium and art as a bridge, to jointly compose a new chapter of civilizational exchange and mutual learning. I hope that students will embrace the world with an open mindset and become ambassadors of friendship.”

After the speech, four hosts from Laos, Rwanda, the United States, and Russia greeted the audience in multiple languages, including Chinese, English, and Russian, officially kicking off the evening.

The first performance of the evening was a traditional dance by Turkmenistan students. Dressed in elaborate ethnic costumes, the dancers showcased the bold spirit of the grassland people with their powerful steps.

Vietnamese international students blended the grace of traditional dance with the vitality of modern street dance, presenting a creative medley. Dancers first showcased the charm of water towns with elegant movements, then the music suddenly shifted, and the lively “Jingle Bells” ignited the crowd, with the collision of tradition and modernity earning enthusiastic applause.

Three students from Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and Guinea presented a song performance brimming with African flair. Their resonant voices, accompanied by joyful rhythms, ignited the enthusiasm of the entire audience.

The “Rocket Dance” performed by Laotian students brought the evening to a small climax. This traditional dance, which prays for a bountiful harvest, showcased Laos' unique folk culture through the dancers' vivid performance.

The traditional dance performed by Afghan students highlighted the unique charm of Central Asian culture. The strong, powerful movements of the male dancers contrasted sharply with the graceful movements of the female dancers, earning rounds of applause.

The Thai dance captivated the audience with its distinctive Eastern charm. The dancers' exquisite and elegant costumes, combined with their graceful hand gestures, perfectly embodied the essence of Thai traditional culture.

The Indonesian students expressed the warmth of the “Land of a Thousand Islands” through their joyful dance. Their vibrant costumes and lively dance steps seemed to take the audience to the sunny shores of Bali.

The traditional dance performed by the Myanmar students was elegant and moving. The female dancers, dressed in exquisite ethnic costumes, used their graceful movements to showcase the cultural charm of the Lancang River region.

The highlight of the evening was the song and dance performance by the Mongolian students. Melodious long songs seemed to evoke the vast grasslands, while the powerful dance movements showcased the bold and heroic character of the Mongolian people.

One World, One Dream

The evening concluded to the enthusiastic applause of the entire audience. The host expressed gratitude to all participants in multiple languages and urged everyone to “work together to create a better future.”

The International Student Cultural Festival not only showcased the fruitful achievements of LZJTU international education, but also built a bridge for cultural interaction and exchange among Chinese and international students. School of International Education will continue to collaborate with various parties to build a platform for cultural exchanges between China and the world, providing faculty and students with richer multicultural experiences and promoting the international exchanges and education of LZJTU.