In celebration of the fifth International Chinese Language Day, Xiamen University's Xiang’an campus came alive with the Water-Splashing Festival on April 20, 2024. Organized by the Xiang’an Campus Management Committee, the Student Affairs Department, and Chinese International Education College (Overseas Education College), this event aimed to enrich campus life, promote Chinese culture, and strengthen ties among students from diverse backgrounds. The festival saw participation from over 400 students from various countries, along with college administrators, faculty members, and counselors, all immersing themselves in the festive atmosphere of this traditional event.
The celebration officially commenced with an enchanting traditional Thai dance. Gao Bin, Deputy Director of the Student Affairs Department and Head of the Xiang’an Campus Student Office, delivered a speech that highlighted the celebration's role as a vibrant showcase of global cultural diversity and beauty in the new era. As an integral part of the university’s cultural education programs, the Water-Splashing Festival celebration has, since its inception, enhanced deep friendships and provided a platform for mutual understanding among students from around the globe, enriching the cultural diversity of campus life. Gao expressed hopes that the event would further the development of a distinctive, internationally-oriented campus culture at Xiang’an, and wished the celebration a great success.
Following the opening ceremonies, the Thai students conducted a simple yet solemn ceremony to pay tribute to the New Year on the occasion of the Water-Splashing Festival, exchanging blessings for peace and prosperity. Participants equipped with water guns, basins, and buckets engaged in a spirited “water-splashing fight” to the upbeat tunes of Thai music, transforming the venue into a battlefield of flying water droplets. Amidst cheers, shouts, and laughter, students from different countries and cultures shared heartfelt wishes and showcased their unique cultural attributes, forging a bridge of friendly cultural exchange. The event also featured Thai milk tea and seasoned noodles prepared by Thai students, drawing eager tasting from their international peers.
The Water-Splashing Festival, also known as the Songkran Festival, is a major traditional festival celebrated by the Dai, Wa, and other ethnic minorities in China and Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. It has become a hallmark cultural activity hosted by the Chinese International Education College (Overseas Education College), attracting enthusiastic participation from a wide array of students. Each rendition of the festival brings its own cultural nuances, universally expressing a deep affection for life and a hope for prosperity. Coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of the university’s founder, Tan Kah Kee, this year’s festival not only highlighted the harmonious exchange of diverse cultures but also with Tan’s vision of promoting diverse cultures around the globe.
