On October 1, the Confucius Institute at the University of Guadalajara (CI) hosted a special celebration themed around China's National Day. All CI teachers, along with faculty and students from the university's campus, gathered together to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Through activities such as singing the national anthem, cultural presentations, tea art appreciation, and Chinese food tasting, the event allowed the local community to experience the unique charm of China's National Day and Chinese culture in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The atmosphere at the event was both solemn and enthusiastic. Led by Wang Yifan, all the teachers sang the national anthem of the People's Republic of China together. Accompanied by the familiar and stirring melody, bright five-star red flags were waved in everyone's hands. Red lanterns and Chinese knots complemented each other, officially kicking off the National Day celebration.
Following this, Hou Jiaqi and Li Yuqi gave a detailed introduction to China's National Day. Starting from the historical background of the founding of the PRC, they used vivid images and text to introduce the celebration methods and festive atmosphere of the National Day to the audience. Their engaging presentation sparked great interest among the attendees, who listened attentively and responded with warm applause. Through the explanation, the local audience not only learned about the important historical moment of October 1, 1949, but also gained a more intuitive understanding of the symbolism of the five-star red flag and contemporary social life during the holiday.
In the tea culture experience area, exquisite tea settings, a variety of tea samples, tasting cups, and Chinese pastries were elegantly arranged.CI teachers,university faculty and students posed for photos in front of paper-cuttings of the character "Fu" (Fortune). They demonstrated the charm of Chinese tea art to the local teachers and students, allowing everyone to immerse themselves in the elegance of traditional Chinese tea culture amid the rising aroma of tea.
The event concluded with an invitation for campus faculty and students to taste Chinese cuisine. Dishes with excellent color, aroma, and taste—such as spicy diced chicken, stir-fried pork with green peppers,stir-fried noodles (chao mian), and stir-fried rice—filled the tables. While queuing for food and enjoying the Chinese delicacies, everyone exchanged thoughts and feelings. Peking Opera masks and red flags hanging on the background wall added a festive touch to the scene. The atmosphere was relaxed and heartwarming. For many participants, Chinese food and tea culture served as a window to experience Chinese culture up close.
Throughout the event, the attendees maintained high enthusiasm. From the cultural introduction to the interactive experiences, applause and laughter were constant. This made the celebration not only a festiveevent but also one full of warmth.
Due to constraints such as teaching schedules, the audience for this small-scale celebration was relatively limited, but this did not diminish the significance of the event. On one hand, it built a warm platform for CI teachers far from their homeland to express their patriotism, allowing them to share their love for the country while abroad. On the other hand, the local teachers and students present took this opportunity to truly understand the sacred and solemn status of the National Day in the hearts of Chinese people. Although small, the event was vivid and sincere, completing genuine emotional exchange and cultural sharing through relaxed interaction. This made the celebration not just a formal event, but a lively and grounded cultural exchange between China and Mexico. In the future, the CI will continue to carry out diverse cultural activities, allowing more local people to know China and feel its culture through participation and experience.
