By Jin Lu

Ningbo University held its 2026 International Chinese Language Day Fair recently, bringing together students and faculty from nearly 30 countries. The event, organized by the School of Foreign Languages and the International Exchange School, also connected online with the Tamatave Confucius Institute in Madagascar.

The fair featured 11 booths offering hands-on activities such as solving traditional riddles, practicing calligraphy, paper-cutting and making ink rubbings of stone inscriptions. They gave international students a deeper understanding of the origins and development of Chinese characters.

Separate workshop sessions included martial arts training and collaborative calligraphy, while interactive installations invited participants to link their hometowns to Ningbo on a world map and jointly transcribe passages from the Tao Te Ching.

The program also included stage performances, featuring Chinese opera, music and martial arts demonstrations. International students performed Chinese songs, and parts of the event were livestreamed to audiences overseas.

The fair concluded with a group chorus. Now in its third year, the event is part of the university's broader efforts to promote cultural exchange and engagement among students from different countries.