To enhance international students’ understanding of excellent traditional Chinese culture and enrich their campus life during the holidays, on September 30th, 65 international students from Laos, Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia, and other countries participated in the “Autumn Charm in Mid-Autumn Festival, Celebrating Double Festivals with Laughter” cultural experience activity at the Leshan Giant Buddha Museum. The event, co-organized by the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation of our college and the Leshan Giant Buddha Museum, offered an immersive learning experience of Leshan’s history and culture and the hands-on crafting of traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage lacquer fans.

On the day of the event, the students visited the Leshan Museum, where they learned about the construction history and cultural background of the Leshan Giant Buddha, and admired ceramic and stone carving art as well as calligraphy. During the visit, the students expressed their admiration for the wisdom of ancient Chinese people and the profoundness of Chinese culture, stopping frequently to appreciate the exhibits and take photos as souvenirs.

After the visit, Zhang Xiantao, an intangible cultural heritage lecturer from the Leshan Museum, introduced the historical origins and craftsmanship of “lacquer fans” to the international students and demonstrated the process of making lacquer fans. The students actively participated, experiencing the process of making lacquer fans themselves. The venue was filled with enthusiasm and a warm, harmonious atmosphere.

This event provided a platform for international students to understand excellent traditional Chinese culture and built a bridge of friendship for students from different countries to get to know each other and enhance their friendships. It allowed the international students to feel the charm of excellent traditional Chinese culture and increased their sense of identification with Chinese culture. The event is of great significance for cultivating international students who understand, befriend, and love China.