On the evening of September 25, the Confucius Institute at the University of San Marino (UNIRSM-CI) held the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival celebration under the theme "Full Moon for Mid-Autumn, Sharing Stories of Reunion." Faculty and students from San Marino, Rimini, Italy, and other places, participants of the 2026 BCU Summer Camp, and people from various sectors of society gathered together. Through a rich variety of activities, including summer camp experience sharing, Mid-Autumn culture introductions, "Mid-Autumn Family Photo" sessions, and mooncake tasting, they jointly experienced the cultural charm of a traditional Chinese festival and spent a warm and joyful Mid-Autumn evening.
The event unfolded in a relaxed and warm atmosphere. After a welcome speech by Foreign Director Barbara Montanari, Chinese Director Fan Ling hosted the 2026 BCU Summer Camp student sharing session. The students who attended the summer camp spoke enthusiastically, sharing their observations and unforgettable experiences in Beijing amid laughter. Based on their personal experiences, they talked about their feelings toward China, Chinese culture, and the summer camp. A member of the public attending the event said after listening to the students' sharing that their stories reminded him of the wonderful times he had spent in China, which deeply touched him.
After the student sharing session, Barbara Terenzi, Chair of the UNIRSM-CI Council, delivered a speech. She expressed appreciation for the students' wonderful sharing and extended a welcome and gratitude to the participating faculty, students, and friends from all walks of life, further warming the atmosphere.
Subsequently, volunteer teachers from the Confucius Institute gave a concise and vivid introduction, leading participants to understand the customs, cultural stories, and the meaning of reunion embodied in the Mid-Autumn Festival, an important traditional Chinese holiday. The ancient poem "The moon shines exceptionally bright at Mid-Autumn, and one misses their loved ones even more on festive occasions" expresses the Chinese people's cherishing of Mid-Autumn reunion and their yearning for family togetherness and a better life. To help everyone leave with their own Mid-Autumn memories, the Confucius Institute prepared Mid-Autumn-themed blessing bookmarks for each participant and invited everyone to take a "Mid-Autumn Family Photo" together. Friends from different countries and cultural backgrounds gathered in front of the camera, recording this special Mid-Autumn evening with a group photo.
At the end of the event, accompanied by elegant traditional Chinese music, everyone tasted mooncakes and various Chinese snacks, admired the full moon in the courtyard, and freely exchanged and shared their feelings, spending a relaxed and joyful Mid-Autumn evening together.
From the youthful memories of the Beijing summer camp to the cultural stories of the Mid-Autumn Festival; from a small blessing bookmark to a warm "family photo," and to the sweet and delicious Mid-Autumn mooncakes, this Mid-Autumn evening was not only an experience of traditional Chinese festival culture, but also a vivid practice of UNIRSM-CI in promoting Chinese culture and facilitating people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and other countries. UNIRSM-CI will continue to play its role as a bridge for cultural exchange. Through rich and colorful language and cultural activities, it will encourage the people of San Marino, especially the youth, to further understand China and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and San Marino.
