An autumn tea ceremony set the tone for a day of cultural exchange and connection at the Suzhou Campus of Renmin University of China (RUC) recently. Thirty Chinese and international students participated in a seasonal cultural experience event, sharing tea and crafting lanterns as they celebrated a unique Mid-Autumn Festival together. 

Chinese and international students take part in the traditional art of tea-making during a seasonal cultural experience event.

Guided by a national-level inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, participants immersed themselves in traditional tea-making. Using ladles as brushes and water as ink, students "painted" on tea foam, creating imaginative patterns inspired by their impressions of China, ranging from elegant swans to blooming lotuses, each design reflecting a personal encounter with Chinese culture. 

An international student takes part in traditional tea-making.

"We may come from different countries, but we share the same curiosity, creativity and appreciation for the beauty of life. We value true friendship, respect diverse civilizations and embrace the world with open enthusiasm," one participant remarked. Amid the tea's gentle fragrance, every shared smile became a meeting point between Song-dynasty elegance and contemporary creativity, fostering a warm cross-cultural dialogue that infused new vitality into friendship and exchange.

Students also explored the rich heritage of the Mid-Autumn Festival — from the legend of Chang'e, to centuries of moon-themed poetry and customs such as moon worship, lantern viewing and sharing mooncakes. Through these stories and traditions, they gained a deeper understanding of the festival's significance as a national intangible cultural heritage item, and its enduring theme of harmony between family and nation. 

International students show the camera the lanterns they made.

Working together, students assembled lantern frames, pasted decorative panels and completed traditional palace lanterns. Some planned to carry their lanterns while moon-gazing during the festival, while others intended to bring them home as cultural gifts for family and friends. Dressed in hanfu, one student joyfully shared that wearing traditional attire and holding a lantern made her feel truly immersed in Chinese culture. 

When shared experiences illuminate understanding, like lanterns glowing under a Mid-Autumn moon, they spark connections that transcend borders, bringing people, cultures and stories closer together.