On the evening of December 31, the first “Cai Bao（菜宝）& Exemplary Students” Cultural Festival and New Year Carnival of ZUFE was held in its cultural corridor, where bustling with faculty and students in joyful mood. ZUFE’s leadership team was invited to this event, including Li Jinchang, Wei Jiang, Zheng Yali, Sun Xudong, Xu Xiaodong, Dong Jincai, Cheng Shuang, and Shentu Li. Other participants included the heads of related functional departments such as the Party School Office of the CPC, the Office of CPC Publicity, the Office of Student Affairs, the Graduate School & Office of Discipline Construction, the ZUFE Committee, and the Center of Logistics Services, as well as school secretaries of ZUFE’s Party Committee, deputy secretaries in charge of student affairs, and secretaries of the ZUFE Committee. Along with nearly ten thousand faculty and students, they joined to celebrate the New Year.
At the beginning of the event, Secretary of ZUFE’s Party Committee Li Jinchang, and the Deputy Party Secretary and President Wei Jiang participated in the traditional lion eye-dotting ceremony to bring good fortune, marking the grand opening of the event. In the period of the event, Li Jinchang personally wrote and handed out calligraphy “Fu (福)”characters to the students, while Wei Jiang distributed glutinous rice balls to console them ahead of their final exams. The event reached its climax when all ZUFE’s leaders joined together in singing Tomorrow Will Be Better (明天会更好), earning enthusiastic applause from the students. Additionally, they presented students with Chinese knots, red lanterns, specially designed Cai Bao souvenirs and other New Year’s blessings, wishing all students a happy new year and success in their studies.
After more than two months of preparation, this event featured the New Year’s Eve gala, intangible cultural heritage experiences, club showcase, New Year’s wish-making check-in, and regional specialty food taste. Despite the cold weather, students and faculty were enthusiastic, immersing themselves in ZUFE’s unique culture. Decorated with large heart-shaped balloons and red lanterns, ZUFE radiated a joyful New Year ambiance and carried aspirations for the future.
The New Year’s Eve gala commenced with the song Silver Clouds Chasing the Moon (彩云追月), followed by a series of traditional Chinese instrumental music, choral singing and solo songs performed by the ZUFE Art Troupe and students volunteered. All the wonderful performances gained cheers from the audience, including the songs As Wished (如愿), Flying with Light (和光同行), Years (岁月), the choral version Stardust (星尘), Sisi ni moja and Kunqu Opera excerpt The Peony Pavilion (牡丹亭) and a traditional Hanfu fashion show.
Besides, interactive booths featuring more than 20 intangible cultural heritage, such as Sichuan Opera mask-changing, Hanfu, lion dancing, sugar painting, traditional sachets making and lacquer fan crafting, were a big hit among students. They eagerly participated in these activities to explore the charm of traditional culture. At the end of 2024, they welcomed the new year in a hilarious and joyful atmosphere.
Forty student clubs at ZUFE, including the Red Leaf Opera Club, Jiameng Tea Art Club, Hanfu Club, and AIGC Club, incorporated elements of traditional Chinese culture into their activities, offering experiences such as bamboo weaving, lotus lantern making, double-coin knots, poetry recitation, and “Feihualing (飞花令)”. Each club’s booth was filled with merry students. Also, faculty and students showered praise and affection on the event online, expressing sentiments like, “ZUFE, you’re amazing!” “Tomorrow will definitely be better!” “ZUFE’s thoughtful care for students is truly impressive!” and “I’m booking my spot for ZUFE’s New Year’s Eve celebration next year in advance!”
A feast of 20 specialty dishes from across China, including Chongqing Thumb-Sized fried buns, Shanxian haggis soup, and Haining banquet balls (glutinous rice meatballs), was showcased at ZUFE and attracted students with its aromas. Among the diverse delicacies, the roasted whole lamb stole the spotlight—crispy on the outside, and offered for free to all faculty and students. “Truly irresistible” became a frequently uttered phrase. Meanwhile, the Center for Logistics Services, in collaboration with the Market Supervision Bureau to conduct strict inspections at every food stall, allowing everyone to indulge in the feast with confidence and peace of mind.
This event has thoroughly embraced the student-oriented educational philosophy, creating a tailor-made celebration uniquely for ZUFE students, thereby enhancing their sense of happiness and belonging. It has also enriched ZUFE’s campus culture, contributing to the cultivation of well-rounded “MAQ-type exemplary ZUFE students.” Additionally, the event has enabled “exemplary ZUFE students” to ring in the New Year and pursue their dreams through a variety of activities.
