Yang Mei

yangmei_szdaily@163.com

A COLD snap and light rain Sunday afternoon failed to dampen the vibrant atmosphere at the Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School campus in Nanshan’s Xili University Town, where students and visitors gathered for the annual International Culture Day hosted by Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS).

At the site, over 30 booths showcased signature foods, drinks, music, games, and cultural traditions of different countries. Visitors of various nationalities eagerly sampled treats, interacted with presenters, and learned about different traditions.

The French booth was one of the most eye-catching, not only for the baguettes, croissants, and soccer culture display, but also for featuring a live rooster to entertain visitors and enhance their understanding of the Gallic rooster — a powerful French national symbol.

Clad in a red beret and a long black woolen coat, Héloïse, a French master’s student in management at PHBS, told Shenzhen Daily that they had prepared for the event for over a month, which involved partnering with a local bakery, decorating the booths, and brainstorming interactive games to better promote French culture.

Beyond promoting French culture, Héloïse views the event as a great opportunity to learn about other cultures and make connections.

“I recently discovered Uzbek culture because I have a few friends from there... I didn’t know anything about the country before and now I love it,” she said.

Italian Francesca Di Credico said her team had also prepared for weeks, focusing on authentic food and decorations. Collaborating with an Italian restaurant in the University Town, their booth served delicacies such as pasta, mortadella focaccia, and tiramisu. The booth also featured guessing games with pictures of Italian landmarks and common gestures.

To offer a unique experience, they used VR glasses to immerse visitors in the story of Marco Polo. Participating for the first time, Di Credico found the event “a perfect platform to share our culture and learn about China’s.”

Emma, a Moroccan student from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and a member of the Z10 Club, visited the event for the first time. She said she loved the Myanmar booth the most. “We tried the Myanmar food, clothing, and makeup, which are very interesting,” she said.

PHBS hosts over 120 international faculty and students. Launched in 2023, the International Culture Day has become a flagship event fostering cultural exchange between Chinese and international communities.