As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, a special event titled "Embracing Cultural Diversity, Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival Together – A Global Celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival" was held at the CBD Branch of the City of Springs Library in Jinan, organized by Jinan International Communication Center and Jinan Go up Foreign Language Club. Foreign students and friends from countries such as Ghana, Japan (Wakayama City), New Zealand, Nigeria, the United States, Liberia, Canada, Mexico, Sudan, Pakistan, and Kenya gathered with club members to enjoy mooncakes, learn Chinese characters, and appreciate the beauty of Chinese poetry. The event aimed to deepen international participants’ understanding of Chinese traditional festival customs, enhance cultural exchange, and promote mutual learning between Chinese and foreign cultures.

The event began with the host introducing the origins and myths of the Mid-Autumn Festival in lively English. Foreign guests were invited to share stories about family reunion festivals from their own countries, such as Mexico and Japan, highlighting both the diversity and commonality of world cultures.

Naoki Matsushita from Wakayama City, Japan, mentioned that this was his second time celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Jinan. He always actively participates in cultural exchange activities organized by schools and communities for traditional festivals. Wakayama City, Japan, was Jinan’s first international sister city, with the two cities having established relations in 1983. Since then, they have engaged in extensive exchanges and practical cooperation in culture, education, and sports.

During the event, friends from various countries recited the ancient Chinese poem Prelude to Water Melody in multiple languages. There was also a special introduction to Jinan’s “Er’an Culture”, featuring the literary achievements of Song Dynasty poets Li Qingzhao and Xin Qiji, giving the international guests a deeper appreciation of classical Chinese literature. As a large mooncake was cut, everyone shared in the sweet treat from the East, experiencing the joy of Mid-Autumn Festival reunion.

In the language exchange session, Chinese members eagerly taught foreign friends how to read Chinese characters, recite ancient poems, and engage in interactive games in different languages. The foreign participants enthusiastically showcased their language skills, creating a lively and warm atmosphere. The highlight of the event was when international friends donned traditional Chinese attire, mǎmiànqún (horse-face skirts), and performed a Chinese poetry recitation accompanied by soothing music, bringing the event to a high point.

As part of the "Spend Wonderful Times in Jinan" series, this event used the Mid-Autumn Festival language corner format to provide an enriching exchange platform for the growing number of "new Jinan residents." In recent years, as Jinan continues to open up, the city is increasingly sharing its stories and voice with international friends in multiple languages.