An international student New Year's gala was held on Friday evening in Jinzhong, Shanxi province, bringing together more than 200 students from 16 countries and regions to perform music, dance and martial arts ahead of the upcoming Spring Festival.
The event, titled the Shanxi International Students' 2026 New Year Gala, featured performances by students from countries including Russia, Thailand, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and others. Rather than focusing on a single tradition, the program moved between cultures, with students presenting art forms rooted in their own backgrounds alongside performances inspired by Chinese culture.
Miah Md Rabbl, a 22-year-old Bangladeshi student at Taiyuan University of Technology, took part in a South Asian dance performed by a student team. He said the group hoped to use dance to share New Year wishes with the audience.
Al-Bara Kareem, a Yemeni student at Shanxi University, performed a poetry recitation. Speaking afterward, he reflected on his four years of study in China, noting that language barriers had been a challenge early on. He said support from Chinese classmates helped him adapt, and that preparing the recitation gave him a deeper appreciation of Chinese history and culture.
International students in Shanxi province pose for a group photo at the Shanxi International Students' 2026 New Year Gala in Jinzhong, Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]
International students give a dance performance at the Shanxi International Students' 2026 New Year Gala in Jinzhong, Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]
One of the evening's most warmly received performances was a Mongolian dance presented by students from Asian and African countries. Perenleisambuu Egshiglen, a Mongolian student involved in the performance, said the group rehearsed regularly on campus in the lead-up to the gala despite winter weather. She said the dance was intended to convey the boldness of Mongolian culture and the idea of learning through cultural exchange.
As Spring Festival approaches, several students said they were curious about how the holiday is celebrated in China. Tabinda Noreen from Pakistan, who is about to experience the festival for the first time, said she was eager to take part in activities such as watching fireworks and wearing hanfu (the traditional attire of the Han ethnic group) for photos.
Vu Thi Ngoc, a Vietnamese student, noted that 2026 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac, which corresponds to her own zodiac sign. In Vietnamese culture, she said, the horse symbolizes success and good luck, something she hopes will accompany her studies and future career.
International students perform tai chi at the Shanxi International Students' 2026 New Year Gala in Jinzhong, Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]
The gala was organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Shanxi Province and the Shanxi Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and hosted by Taiyuan Normal University.
Dong Xiaolin, director of the provincial foreign affairs office, emphasized that international students are vibrant youth ambassadors. He vowed that the office would continue to organize events like this one to inject youthful energy into Shanxi's opening-up and write a new chapter of mutual achievement.
Ma Jie, president of Taiyuan Normal University, highlighted the university's commitment to internationalization through its numerous partnerships with universities abroad. "The gala is a feast of cultures and a bridge connecting hearts between Chinese and international youth," he said.
Sun Shuyue and Ding Yi contributed to this story.
An international student sings at the Shanxi International Students' 2026 New Year Gala in Jinzhong, Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]
