On the evening of September 13, 2024, Sino-French Engineer School of Beihang University held a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration in Conference Room 413 of No.2 Teaching Building on Xueyuan Road Campus.

Secretary of the Party Committee of school Zhang Jiang, Vice Directors Wang Min and Yin Chuantao, French Vice Director Mariem KACEM BOUREAU, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee Xu Gaonan, Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China committee Zhao Qiudi, representatives of Chinese and foreign faculty and staff, as well as French students, attended the activity. The event was hosted by Vice Director Yin Chuantao.

Mr. Li Meng began by outlining the history of the Mid-Autumn Festival and two tales that are connected to it: Wu Gang Fells the Laurel Tree and Chang'e Flying to the Moon. He also explained the customs and significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Since ancient times, there have been folk activities such as admiring lanterns and the full moon and eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to celebrate reunions with family members since the full moon represents reunions. The Mid-Autumn Festival is nowadays not only a cultural emblem but also symbolizes cultural heritage and expression of emotions.

After learning about the Mid-Autumn Festival, Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China committee Zhao Qiudi, introduced a related song,"May we all be blessed with longevity." This song's lyrics, which come from poetry from the Song dynasty, reflect the desire for loved ones to live long, peaceful lives. She performed the song for everyone as well, and everyone applauded her lovely vocals and catchy melody.

While learning about Mid-Autumn traditions and listening to songs, participants sat around the table and tasted delicious mooncakes from a traditional Beijing brand—Dao Xiang Cun and pomegranates. There were many flavors of mooncakes, such as five-nuts mooncakes, red bean mooncakes, date paste mooncakes, and so on, each with unique characteristics. While tasting, everyone shared their daily work, study, and life together and expressed their best wishes to each other in a wonderful atmosphere.

At the end of the activity, Secretary of the Party Committee of the school Zhang Jiang, made a speech. He reminded us that pomegranates represent unity and mooncakes represent reunions, and that everyone being together right now is a representation of both unity and reunion. He also taught the poems "Thoughts on a Tranquil Night" and "Missing My Brothers East of Mt. Hua on Double Ninth Festival" to the foreign students present. He remarked that foreign students who come to China from far away will surely miss their home. As the Mid-Autumn Festival is a reunion festival, he hoped that everyone would feel at home in the Sino-French Engineer School of Beihang University.

In addition to promoting China's wonderful traditional culture, this activity increases the affective interactions between participating teachers and students—especially those who are foreign teachers and students. Let's enjoy a cozy and peaceful Mid-Autumn Festival together while feeling the school's tremendous concern for one another!