Shanghai University held the 12th International Cultural Festival and 18th Exhibition of International Culture and Customs on May 9, drawing participation from students from more than 50 countries, with over 1,000 Chinese and international faculty and students joining the cultural carnival.
This year's festival featured over 20 country booths, each offering a window into unique cultural heritages through traditional artifacts, handicrafts, cuisine and more. The main stage served as a platform for diverse performances, from traditional folk dances to contemporary musical acts.
Yu Xuemei, vice-president of Shanghai University, said this year's festival delivered China's cultural ideals of unity amid diversity, while echoing today's call for cross-cultural exchanges and shared development. She stressed the university's commitment to deepening global cooperation and strengthening internationalized education.
Six internship, innovation and entrepreneurship practice bases were also accredited during the event.
Anastasiia Kozlova from Russia, a sophomore animation student at the university, said their booth incorporates interactive elements, including a spinning wheel game designed to test visitors' knowledge of Russian culture and history. "It's a great honor to be like a face of Russia in China and share our culture with others," she said, dressed in traditional Russian attire featuring vibrant reds and blues.
The Cambodian booth, designed around their New Year theme, displayed traditional elements including national flower motifs. Sem Alisalen, a student involved in the booth's preparation, said the team began their work six months ago, with careful attention to visual design and handcrafted cultural installations to share the culture of Cambodia with visitors.
Daria Ezhova, an exchange student from France, praised the festival's ability to bring different cultures together. "It's really nice to see all of the cultures that are in the university because most of the time we don't see them," she said. "People are so open to sharing their culture and showing their home places. We were dancing with people from different countries and trying their food, which is amazing."
Bangladeshi student Idris Bhuiya Akil commended the diverse offerings at the various booths. "This event helps us understand our classmates better. Maybe one day when we visit their countries, we'll have some prior experience of their culture," he said.
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