The spring light flows as the greenery flourishes. On April 24th, the 7th Sino-French Cultural Festival, themed "ÉCHO: A Realm of Resonant Harmony," was grandly held in front of Student Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Through diverse garden party experiences, brilliant stage performances, and immersive interactive sessions, the event wove together multiple facets of Sino-French cultural exchange, drawing enthusiastic participation from over a thousand attendees both on and off campus.
Zhou Cheng, Deputy Secretary of the CPC SJTU Committee; Christiana REBIERE, Deputy Director of Campus France Shanghai ; Wang Houji, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC SJTU Committee and President of the Overseas Friendship Association; Ouyang Shiquan, Director of the Security Department; Kang Jian, Director of the Campus Management Office; Yao Yi, Director of the Logistics Support Center; Li Mei, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Logistics Support Center; Zhang Dandan, Executive Deputy Director of the Women’s Committee; members of the leadership team of the Student Affairs Steering Committee; Xiong Zhenhua, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the SJTU-Paris Elite Institute of Technology (SPEIT); Zied MOUMNI, the French Dean of SPEIT; and leaders from various partner departments and schools attended the event to witness the opening of the 7th Sino-French Cultural Festival.
The 7th Sino-French Cultural Festival was hosted by SPEIT, under the guidance of the SJTU Student Affairs Steering Committee, the Youth League Committee, and the International Affairs Division, and supported by a diverse network of academic departments, student clubs, and industry partners. Now in its seventh year, this signature event plays a crucial role in the university’s international cultural landscape. It serves as an essential bridge for Sino-French people-to-people exchange, empowering students with a global perspective while cultivating a vibrant, inclusive campus community.
A New Chapter Unfolds: A Shared Journey into Culture
At the opening ceremony, Xiong Zhenhua extended a warm welcome to all guests on behalf of the institute. He noted that the Sino-French Cultural Festival, as a vital "second classroom" in SPEIT’s talent cultivation system, serves as an essential educational platform for nurturing cultural understanding, broadening international horizons, and strengthening shared values. It vividly demonstrates the institute's commitment to open integration and collaborative education. He expressed his hope that this festival would serve as an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of intangible cultural heritage, honor the cultural commitment, and jointly write a new chapter in Sino-French educational cooperation and cultural exchange.
Zhou Cheng spoke highly of the event. In his speech, he noted that the 7th Sino-French Cultural Festival, rooted in the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage and the integration of Chinese and French cultural elements, showcases both the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and the innovative expression and youthful vitality of the younger generation. He emphasized that the university will continue to deepen high-level opening-up in education and build platforms for cross-cultural dialogue. The goal is to cultivate a new generation of "pioneers of the era" who can bridge China and the world, communicate globally, and take on future responsibilities, contributing more "SJTU strength" to civilizational exchange, mutual learning, and Sino-French friendly cooperation.
Christiana REBIERE stated that the theme of this year's festival, "ÉCHO," vividly interprets the resonance between Chinese and French cultures through mutual exchange and learning. She pointed out that the SJTU-Paris Elite Institute of Technology (SPEIT) is not only a significant achievement in Sino-French higher education cooperation but also a vital bridge connecting the cultures, perspectives, and mindsets of the two nations. The Cultural Festival, she added, makes this connection more tangible and vibrant through the dynamic exchanges between young people.
Next, distinguished guests including Christiana REBIERE, Wang Houji, Ouyang Shiquan, Kang Jian, Yao Yi, Li Mei, Zhang Dandan, Zheng Hao, Xiong Zhenhua, and Zied MOUMNI jointly set off the ceremonial confetti cannons, officially marking the commencement of the 7th Sino-French Cultural Festival.
With the official launch of the event, the garden party and stage performances commenced simultaneously. Under the warm spring sun, the Student Center Plaza unfolded like a living scroll of Sino-French cultural exchange.
Explore China & France: The Magic of Cultural Diversity
This year's festival featured a "4+X" Garden Fair system, structured around four thematic zones: "Aroma Corridor," "Innovation Engine," "Harmonie," and "Play Oasis." Complementing these were the "+X" surprise booths, organized in collaboration with various university departments, student societies, and corporate partners. Together, they created a cultural exchange environment that blended gastronomy, technology, arts, and games into an interactive, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing experience.
In the "Aroma Corridor," teachers and students explored Sino-French exchange through the "taste buds" with French macaron DIY sessions, culinary interactive games, and specialty food tastings. At the "Innovation Engine," projects like VR experiences and riddle challenges created an immersive space for exploration. In the "Harmonie,"artistic workshops featuring enamel crafting, solid perfumes, and collages allowed participants to experience the delicate beauty of Sino-French cultural fusion through hands-on creation. Meanwhile, at the "Play Oasis," a mix of fun activities such as French Pétanque, Chinese Pitch-pot (Touhu), Mikado, and book & film riddles blended seamlessly, filling the venue with a relaxed and vibrant interactive atmosphere.
The "+X" surprise booths were equally brimming with highlights. A diverse array of featured activities from university departments, student societies, and corporate partners converged here, adding rich layers and enhancing the participatory experience of this year’s festival. From Kunqu Opera performances, indigo dyeing, and darkroom film printing to Sino-French musical theater interactions, "Flying Flower" poetry games, traditional sachets, and lacquer fans, as well as high-tech installations and public welfare interactions—each activity combined fun with cultural depth. These offerings allowed teachers and students to truly experience the vigorous vitality sparked by the collision and fusion of diverse civilizations while wandering, playing, and learning.
The festival also featured special NPC parades and stamp-collecting interactions. Classic cultural figures from China and France roamed the venue, linking the various booths and adding a vibrant splash of cultural color to the campus on this bright spring day.
Rhythms of Spring, Echoes of Youth
That afternoon, the main stage performances unfolded brilliantly by the side of Hanze Lake. Student hosts from the SJTU-Paris Elite Institute of Technology took the stage together, introducing a rotating showcase of programs that blended Chinese and French styles. A rich tapestry of artistic forms—including songs, dances, and instrumental music—was woven throughout the afternoon. Here, tradition and modernity complemented one another, while passion and creativity sparked and resonated in every performance.
The performances were presented in two chapters: "Résonance · Sound in Motion" and "Harmonie · Hidden Rhymes." On stage, crystal-clear vocals and graceful dance moves intertwined with the interplay of instruments and light; off stage, laughter blended with the lingering crowds as waves of applause and cheers rose and fell. On this spring afternoon, Chinese and French cultures were no longer merely static displays. Instead, they illuminated one another through dialogue and radiated new vitality through resonance.
As the evening glow bathed the campus, the 7th Sino-French Cultural Festival drew to a successful close amidst laughter and the play of light and shadow. Under the theme "ÉCHO: A Realm of Resonant Harmony, "the event masterfully interlaced the beauty of intangible heritage, artistic inspiration, technological creativity, and youthful energy. It allowed Chinese and French cultures to illuminate and inspire one another through direct experience, leaving the faculty and students with cherished spring memories of encounter, resonance, and fusion.
Looking ahead, the Sino-French Cultural Festival will continue to serve as a cultural bridge and a medium for exchange. By consistently deepening and substantiating Sino-French people-to-people interactions, the festival aims to inject even greater vitality into the cultivation of young talents who possess a global perspective, cross-cultural empathy, and the dedication to lead their era.
Authors: Fu Yaning, Jia Xinnuo
Contributor: Paris Elite Institute of Technology
Editor: Yin Yihe
Translated by: Denise
Proofread by: Rebecca
