On September 30th, the International Department of the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts (CCAA) launched "Moon over CCAA: A Reunion Across Miles," an immersive Mid-Autumn Festival event. Rooted in the legend of Chang'e flying to the moon and centered around traditional cultural experiences, the activity allowed international students to become "Moon Seekers" immersed in the charm of the festival. It also served as a vivid example of the College's commitment to holistic education and deepening international students' understanding of Chinese culture.
Unlike traditional festival events with one-way narration, this program adopted a creative "storytelling + interaction" model, weaving the essence of Mid-Autumn culture into an immersive plot. It began with "Opening the Lunar Gate," where a theatrical performance brought to life classic myths such as "Hou Yi Shooting the Suns" and "Chang'e Flying to the Moon." As the stories unfolded—Hou Yi drawing his bow to shoot down nine suns, the Queen presenting the elixir of immortality, and the villain Peng Meng attempting to steal it, forcing Chang'e to consume the pill—the international students were instantly drawn into their mission: to help Hou Yi and Chang'e reunite.
Through the universal language of myth, international students gained an immediate understanding of the cultural themes of "reunion" and "longing" at the heart of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The design of five themed stations was equally thoughtful: Archery Toss, linking to Hou Yi’s heroic image; Ink and Blessing, echoing the tradition of conveying emotions through calligraphy; Scented Sachet Riddles, blending the art of incense with playful mystery; Poetry Under the Moon, gathering the beauty of classical verses; Reunion in the Moonlight, returning to the core meaning of the festival.
Each spot was guided by head teachers in the role of “hidden NPCs.” From demonstrating rituals to leading hands-on tasks, they helped students naturally uncover layers of cultural meaning as the story progressed.
"15-second challenge! Go get your mission card!" With this direction from the "Osmanthus Fairy," the students sprang into action. The nervous excitement of crossing a "time tunnel" blindfolded, the cheer of succeeding at the archery toss, the focus on decoding the sachet recipe, the care taken in writing the characters for "reunion" — this was immersive learning in its truest form. Culture was no longer passively received, but actively explored.
From crafting fragrant sachets with their own hands to teaming up to complete poetry challenges, from trying ancient arrow-tossing games to sharing stories of their own cultural festivals—the international students didn't just learn about the Mid-Autumn Festival. They felt its warmth through experience, discovering shared emotions and building bridges across cultures along the way.
The event also reflected the International Department's commitment to the educational principle of "holistic development." From planning to execution, head teachers and department staffs fully participated as "NPCs," serving not only as cultural guides but also as supportive companions. Chinese language teachers designed activities like "Ink and Blessings" and "Poetry Under the Moon," integrating language learning with traditional aesthetics. By using the Mid-Autumn Festival as a medium, the College conveyed deeper cultural values—such as harmony, reunion, and shared national celebration—through myth and experience, offering a natural, engaging form of cultural education.
As the event drew to a close, all the international students successfully collected the moon fragments, leading to an emotional “reunion” between “Hou Yi” and “Chang’e” under the moonlight. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and excitement. Holding the scented sachets they had crafted and the blessings they had written, the students gathered for photos against a beautiful moonlit backdrop.
This creative and hands-on Mid-Autumn celebration not only provided international students with unforgettable cultural experiences but also planted in their hearts a seed of understanding and affection for Chinese culture. Moving forward, CCAA will continue to use traditional festivals as a platform to further develop its holistic education approach, building even stronger bridges for cultural and people-to-people exchange among youth from China and around the world.
