On March 18, the International Office of Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai (BNU Zhuhai) organized a photo-shooting activity called "Spring Back to the Valley, Celebrate the Huazhao Festival", one of the serial activities of Experiencing China·Experiencing Fine Traditional Chinese Culture, in order to celebrate the return of spring and lead the international students to experience the fine traditional Chinese culture. 16 international students of Belt and Road School and Phoenix School from 10 countries including Russia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Uzbekistan and Mexico participated.

In the activity, the international students in traditional Hanfu wandered in the beautiful campus and took photos at the landmarks, including the university name stone, the Confucius statue, Lishen Xuan and the flower path near the campus, appreciating the spring flowers in blossom(kapok, bauhinia, tabebuia chrysantha, rhododendron leucoides) and leaving their beautiful smiles in photos. By wearing traditional Hanfu to appreciate the spring flowers, international students have a better understanding of the cultural connotation of Chinese traditional Huazhao Festival and learn about the passion in Chinese culture for nature.

Huazhao Festival, known as the birthday of flower goddess, is a traditional Chinese festival to celebrate the arrival of spring and the blooming flowers. Since the climate varies in different parts of China, people hold celebrations on the second, 12th, or 15th day of February on the Chinese lunar calendar. Huzhao Festival comes in early spring, and people go for an outing to appreciate the blossoming flowers. In ancient times, during the festival, literati would invite bosom friends to appreciate the flowers, drink wine and sing to each other. In addition, the joyous festival is celebrated with some traditional customs, such as praying to the flower goddess, having a spring outing, fastening strips of red cloth to flower stems, inserting flowers in hair and making flower cakes.

Experiencing China·Serial Activities of Experiencing Fine Traditional Chinese Culture aims to facilitate international students’ understanding of fine traditional Chinese culture and promote cultural exchanges between different countries by attending various traditional Chinese culture experiencing activities. In this semester, five culture experiencing activities, including Chinese language learning, visit to the Intangible Cultural Heritage(ICH) Center, Huazhao Festival photo-taking, Tai Chi class and the appreciation of Chinese dance are on the schedule.