Hanfu fosters friendship between young people of both countries

Recently, a cultural exchange event organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Heze Municipal Committee, jointly hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Caoxian County Committee, the Confucius Institute at Bangladesh North-South University, and NSUSS, was successfully held at Bangladesh North-South University.

The event at the venue was rich in content and diverse in form, with the main venue and the experience area collaborating with each other. On the stage of the main auditorium, the drama performance, as the core part, was splendidly staged. Students from both universities, dressed in traditional Chinese costumes, took the stage to perform, complemented by an immersive stage backdrop, vividly conveying the romantic connotations of Chinese traditional culture. The wonderful performance won rounds of applause from the guests and audience present.

Following the performance, an honorary certificate ceremony was held to recognize participating students, faculty and staff for their contributions to this cultural exchange initiative.

In the exhibition hall experience zone, hands-on activities drew large crowds. At the traditional rubbing art booth, carved woodblocks and printed samples were laid out for display. Guests and visitors observed demonstrations and tried the craft themselves, gaining a firsthand feel for the artistry of ancient Chinese printing techniques. At the calligraphy station, with brushes, ink and red paper prepared, local participants picked up brushes to write Chinese characters, immersing themselves in the elegance of Chinese calligraphy. The pitch-pot (Touhu) game area also attracted long lines; participants took turns aiming arrows at the bronze pot, enjoying the lighthearted fun of this traditional Chinese folk game in a cheerful, interactive atmosphere.

As a signature highlight of the event, the Global Youth Peony Painting Collection Campaign made its debut. A peony-themed promotional video was screened on site, and Ms. Ma Xiaoyan, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at North South University, shared with the audience the profound cultural heritage and auspicious symbolism of Heze peony. She issued an open invitation to all guests and participants to create peony-themed artworks, encouraging people from all backgrounds and youth communities to join the collection and use paintbrushes as a bridge to share cultural appreciation.

Among all the experience programs, the Hanfu experience area was particularly popular. On the spot, there were many exquisite and beautifully patterned Hanfu styles on display. Staff members assisted local students and teachers in putting on and adjusting the costumes one by one. Many visitors wore Hanfu and took photos in front of the background board, with their flowing garments showcasing the aesthetic charm of traditional Chinese clothing. Many local young people said that trying on Hanfu themselves not only gave them a more vivid and three-dimensional understanding of the cultural connotations of the "Land of Robes", but also made them deeply fall in love with this traditional aesthetic from China.

Moving forward, Heze will continue to deepen cooperation with overseas Confucius Institutes. Leveraging these premium international cultural platforms, the city will further explore outstanding traditional Chinese cultural resources, develop innovative and diversified exchange programs, and bring more culturally rich, contemporary-focused activities to global audiences. By promoting peony culture and Hanfu culture abroad, Heze seeks to advance people-to-people bonds through cultural exchange, strengthen friendship through mutual learning between civilizations, and inject enduring youthful energy into China-Bangladesh friendly relations.

大众网记者 崔智琪 菏泽报道