On July 18, 2024, the four-day 11th Ningbo International Student Festival was successfully concluded at NingboTech University. The event was hosted by the Ningbo Education Bureau and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government, and organized by NingboTech University. The Ningbo University Students Festival aims to promote international cultural exchanges, enhance international students’ understanding and recognition of traditional Chinese culture, and showcase Ningbo’s unique urban charm and profound cultural heritage. This year’s Ningbo International Students Festival invited more than 50 international students from Russia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Grenada, Romania and other Ningbo’s sister cities. During the event, the international students visited Tianyi Pavilion, Sailing Center of Asian Games, Ancient Fishing Town, Xiangshan Film and Television City, among others. The cultural exchanges and integration demonstrated the unique charm of Ningbo, an international port city with profound history and abundant vitality.
On July 15, the opening ceremony was held at the Jinzongcheng Center of NingboTech University, attended by Hu Gangqiang, Deputy Director of Ningbo Education Bureau, Xu Leping, Deputy Director of Ningbo Foreign Affairs Office, Mei Guangshou, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Department of Hai Phong, Vietnam, and Zhang Rongxiang, Vice President of NingboTech University. With artistic performances full of Chinese traditions, the 11th Ningbo International Students Festival officially kicked off with warm applause. In the following two days, the international students went to Xiangshan to explore the Asian Games culture and fishing culture, appreciate the spirit of the Asian Games and the charm of marine sports, and experience traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage items such as paper cutting and fish printing, and the activities fully demonstrated the theme of the International University Student Festival —“Young Ningbo Linking the Silk Road”.
On July 17th, the international students visited the Tianyi Pavilion and the Beilun Port Museum, where they have an in-depth understanding of the thousand-year-old history and modernization of Ningbo, and further feel the unique charm of Ningbo as the starting point of the “Maritime Silk Road”. In the evening, the Boys’ Choir of the Estonia National Opera and the Ningbo Singers Chamber Choir held an friendship concert, presenting a musical feast combining Chinese and Western music for the audience.
On July 18th, after three days of cultural experience and city visits, the 11th Ningbo International Students Festival came to an end, and international students came to Ningbo College of Health Sciences to experience the culture of traditional Chinese medicine. Under the guidance of professionals, the international students practiced the identification and production of Chinese herbal medicines, and experienced traditional Chinese medicine therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and cupping, having gained a deeper understanding of Chinese medicine culture.
In the afternoon, the closing ceremony was held in the Qixin Hall of NingboTech University. The international students presented their learning achievements and experiences in a most friendly atmosphere. All the international teachers and students received a souvenir prepared by NingboTech University. At the end of the closing ceremony, NingboTech University and Ningbo City College of Vocational Technology, organizer of the next year’s Ningbo International Student Festival, held a flag handover ceremony.
The success of the 11th Ningbo International Student Festival not only deepens the understanding and recognition of Chinese culture among international students, but also pours new vitality into the internationalization of Ningbo. We look forward to having more young friends from all over the world come and meet in Ningbo, get to know and integrate in the coastal city of Ningbo in the future, and compose a new chapter of cultural exchanges and mutual learning together.
