To usher in the new year with celebration, CDUT hosted its first-ever Spring Festival Carnival on January 10th at the East Sports Field in Chengdu Campus. The venue was adorned with vibrant lanterns, and the campus was filled with a festive spirit that captivated everyone, drawing faculty, students, staff, retired colleagues, and alumni from Chengdu to join in the festivities. Together, they participated in a New Year celebration where tradition and joy beautifully converged.
CDUT President Xu Qiang and Vice President Ju Nengpan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of CDUT, took part in the celebrations, bidding farewell to the past year and warmly welcoming the new one amid a cheerful and harmonious festive atmosphere.
CDUT leaders exploring the carnival
The carnival featured a variety of key areas, including an interactive game zone, an intangible cultural experience area, and six additional functional zones. The interactive game zone, the centerpiece of the event, offered 58 engaging games, while the intangible cultural experience area showcased 26 booths, providing CDUT’s faculty, staff, and students with the opportunity to explore diverse traditional cultures. Other functional zones included an event information desk, a cultural and creative product area, a rural vitalization section, a prize exchange area, and an emergency medical station, collectively creating a comprehensive, enjoyable carnival experience.
The face-changing performance of Sichuan opera was a breathtaking spectacle, with masks changing in an instant, leaving the audience mesmerized and elevating the event’s energy. Against this vibrant backdrop, the New Year carnival officially commenced, with a rich lineup of performances.
The show of face changing
A graceful and dynamic performance of the intangible cultural heritage puppet and water-sleeve dance highlighted the unique allure of traditional culture. The diverse performances and the exuberant atmosphere contributed to an unforgettable celebration, filling the campus with festive cheer.
The intangible cultural heritage puppet and water-sleeve dance
Students from various colleges graced the stage with a series of diverse performances. Through joyful melodies and heartfelt songs, they offered their New Year’s wishes, infusing the event with the vibrant spirit of the Spring Festival.
Performances from colleges
In the lively interactive game zone, 58 activities, including lantern riddle guessing, ancient-style pottery throwing, dart challenges, football Sudoku, marble catching, and kangaroo hopping, took place amid an atmosphere of laughter and cheer. The carefully curated mix of traditional cultural elements and contemporary amusements created a harmonious and engaging experience for all attendees.
Interactive game zone
The experience area was thoughtfully designed, featuring over ten engaging activities, including writing Spring Festival couplets to send blessings, New Year printmaking, dinosaur lead printing, paper-cutting, and the “lucky fortune” game, drawing numerous teachers and students. As participants immersed themselves in traditional cultural experiences, they also incorporated their best wishes for the New Year into these activities. In the Spring Festival couplet zone, both teachers and students eagerly took up their brushes, crafting couplets filled with hopes for the New Year and aspirations for a better life. In the New Year printmaking area, participants carefully pressed rice paper onto engraved blocks, revealing vibrant, auspicious patterns symbolizing good fortune for the coming year. In the paper-cutting section, individuals skillfully trimmed red paper, creating intricate window decorations that showcased the exquisite craftsmanship of this beloved tradition.
The experience zone
The games and interactive experience zones were particularly popular, drawing a large crowd of teachers and students. A teacher from the College of Communication Science and Art shared her excitement: “The frisbee game was a lot of fun. I scored two points on my first try! Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, a prosperous Year of the Snake, and all the best for the year ahead.”
The atmosphere was filled with joy and laughter, with students and teachers engaging actively both online and offline, spreading the festive spirit of the carnival far and wide.
Teachers and students offering their New Year blessings
The carnival also featured a range of culturally significant cultural and creative products, locally distinctive rural vitalization items, and tempting culinary delights. The cultural and creative exhibition area showcased a variety of expertly crafted items, from elegant bookmarks adorned with iconic campus landmarks to handmade crafts infused with traditional elements. Each piece reflected the creator’s ingenuity, drawing the attention of both teachers and students who paused to admire the fusion of culture and creativity. The rural vitalization section brought together a collection of regional “specialties,” with a variety of local agricultural products that enticed visitors to sample. According to preliminary reports, the rural vitalization market saw sales of nearly 100,000 yuan in local agricultural products, including oxen, cured pork, walnuts, honey, milk candy, and pressed (dried) salted duck, from Heishui, Gaoxian, and Leibo. The food area offered a true feast for the senses, with an impressive selection of dishes. Teachers and students roamed the area, savoring the diverse offerings. Of particular note was the free roasted whole lamb, provided by CDUT. Students eagerly queued to receive their portions and were quick to offer glowing praise for the treat.
Cultural and creative product area, rural vitalization specialty section, and food area
The carnival was met with an overwhelmingly positive response, with active participation from teachers, students, and alumni. Through innovative event concepts and engaging interactive formats, the carnival seamlessly integrated China’s rich traditional culture into campus life, enriching CDUT’s cultural offerings. It highlighted CDUT’s dynamic and optimistic spirit, consolidating efforts to strengthen CDUT’s development into a high-level institution with distinctive advantages. This event was not only a vibrant cultural experience but also a powerful initiative for enhancing campus cultural growth. As we step into the new year, we carry with us a bright vision for the future, united in our efforts and fueled by renewed enthusiasm, to collectively shape CDUT’s prosperous path forward.
