On the morning of September 28, a Mid-Autumn Festival cultural experience event themed “Moonlight Craftsmanship, Artistic Mid-Autumn” was held at Bincheng District Cultural Center. Twenty-three international students from eight countries participated. Attendees included Li Yudi, Party Branch Secretary of the International College at Binzhou Vocational College; Liu Feng, Deputy Director in charge of daily operations at the Bincheng District Committee Propaganda Department; and Guo Mengyu, Party Secretary, Director, and Level-4 Researcher of the Bincheng District Culture and Tourism Bureau. The New Era Civilization Practice Guidance Center, in collaboration with the Bincheng District Culture and Tourism Bureau and international student administrators from the International College, jointly organized this Mid-Autumn cultural feast, blending cultural depth with interactive warmth.

Cultural Exploration: Tracing Heritage · Appreciating Intangible Heritage

Guided by docents, the students began their “Cultural First Encounter” by visiting the Bincheng District Museum and the Paper-Cutting Art Exhibition. At the museum, artifacts bearing a thousand years of Bincheng's history drew the group to pause and listen intently to stories of regional cultural heritage, while others captured details of intriguing exhibits with their phones. At the paper-cutting exhibition, national intangible cultural heritage pieces—Binzhou folk paper-cuttings featuring Mid-Autumn elements like the full moon and jade rabbit—showcased the exquisite artistry of traditional craftsmanship. The students expressed frequent admiration, with multilingual discussions echoing through the gallery as the charm of Eastern civilization quietly transcended borders.

Craftsmanship in Action: Mastering Artistry, Savoring Mid-Autumn

The “Handcrafted Masterpieces” segment formed the heart of this event. International students split into two groups to simultaneously experience paper-cutting and mooncake-making: Under instructors' guidance, the paper-cutting group explored the heritage of Binzhou folk paper-cutting and Mid-Autumn customs before creating their own Mid-Autumn-themed works featuring jade rabbits and butterflies. Upon completion, they eagerly posed for photos with their creations. Meanwhile, the mooncake group followed pastry chefs to learn techniques like kneading dough, wrapping fillings, and molding shapes. Freshly baked mooncakes adorned with intricate patterns emerged from the oven, filling the air with the fragrant scent of flour and joyful laughter. Through hands-on participation, everyone deeply experienced the cultural essence of Mid-Autumn Festival—reunion and blessings.

As the event drew to a close, international students gathered together, sharing their handmade paper-cut artworks and mooncakes. This event not only provided international students with a tangible understanding of the cultural significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival but also built a solid bridge for cross-cultural exchange. The International College will continue to leverage traditional festivals as platforms, innovate cross-cultural communication formats, tell China's stories well, and amplify China's voice. It aims to cultivate more international ambassadors who understand, appreciate, and love China, allowing Chinese culture to shine even more brilliantly in cross-cultural exchanges.