From News Center (Text by Wei Liuyu, School of General Education, Photos by Qin Yangqiang, School of General Education, 3+1 Film & Television Studio, and Youth Media Center) With warm spring breezes in April and vibrant energy on campus, LZPU grandly held the 2nd Traditional Ethnic Sports and Culture Festival on April 3rd, both at the Shewan Campus and Guantang Campus. Under the theme "Inheriting Ethnic Culture, Inspiring Youthful Vitality", teachers and students gathered together to experience the charm of outstanding traditional Chinese culture through fun competitions and folk cultural activities.

Qiu Fuming, Vice President of LZPU, attended the event and delivered a speech. He stated that traditional ethnic sports are a brilliant treasure of fine traditional Chinese culture, carrying the historical memories and spiritual pursuits of all ethnic groups. This culture festival serves as an important platform for LZPU to implement the education philosophy of "health first", promote the integrated development of moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic and labor education, and deepen education on ethnic unity. He expressed hope that all teachers and students would experience the charm of ethnic culture, temper their willpower and character, integrate the spirit of unity and hard work into their study and daily life, and contribute to the high-quality development of the university with youthful energy.

The cultural festival featured distinctive highlights and outstanding characteristics: simultaneous events at both campuses with wide participation; authentic ethnic sports events that combined competition and fun; Chinese and international students competing together for in-depth cultural integration; and practical, innovative prizes that created a lively atmosphere. This event fully demonstrated the youthful vitality of the LZPU campus and the unique charm of ethnic culture.

On the competition field, seven classic events—throwing embroidered balls into a back basket, rolling iron hoops, kicking shuttlecocks, land dragon boat racing, board-shoe racing, stilt walking, and high-pole embroidered ball tossing—took place one after another, with shouts and cheers rising and falling in waves. At the embroidered ball tossing event, the balls flew through the air as throwers delivered precise shots and catchers moved nimbly, their seamless cooperation drawing rounds of applause. On the iron hoop rolling track, competitors maneuvered with ease, demonstrating a perfect blend of speed and skill. On the shuttlecock kicking court, colorful shuttlecocks fluttered lightly as the players coordinated smoothly, showcasing their agility and grace. On the board-shoe racing track, three runners moved as one in perfect synchronization, their rhythmic chants echoing across the field. Dragon boat, the team members rowed with unified effort and fierce determination, their momentum truly magnificent. The stilted horse racers advanced steadily and confidently, striving to take the lead. At the high-pole embroidered ball event, participants aimed at an eight-meter-high target with precision throws, fully displaying their youthful energy. Many participating students said that it was their first time trying traditional ethnic sports such as stilt walking and board-shoe racing, which they found both novel and fun. Through training and competition, they cooperated with and encouraged each other, which has built up their physical strength. And through the sports game, the participants have genuinely experienced the joy of teamwork and the unique charm of ethnic sports.

Off the field, the folk culture experience zone was just as lively. The bamboo dance got everyone moving to its cheerful, upbeat rhythm—students and teachers alike hopped lightly in time with the beat, their laughter rising and falling all around. Fun-filled activities like pearl ball, rainbow ribbon dragon dance, darts, and giant volleyball drew enthusiastic crowds, with everyone eager to join in and enjoy themselves. Over at the tasting area for five-color glutinous rice, the air was filled with an irresistible aroma. The rich ethnic flavors were a real treat for all, offering an immersive taste of the vibrant folk customs.

Notably, international students participated deeply throughout the entire event. They collaborated side by side and interacted friendly with Chinese students, jointly experiencing characteristic activities such as throwing embroidered balls, dancing the bamboo pole dance, and riding stilt horses. The international students all stated that this cultural festival was both interesting and meaningful. It helped them better understand China, integrate into the campus, and was a very valuable campus experience.

After intense and spirited competition, the international student team from the School of International Education, with their seamless coordination, won first place in the embroidered ball tossing into a back basket event. The victory came as a delightful surprise to the international contestants, making traditional Chinese culture even more appealing and engaging through cross-cultural exchange and serving as a vivid testament to the friendship and mutual understanding between Chinese and international youth. The School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and the School of Environment and Food Engineering emerged as the biggest winners of the event, each receiving a special prize of four roast suckling pigs. With this festive reward, the university honored the fighting spirit and collective strength of all participating members, drawing continuous applause and spreading joy across the venue.

This event is an important practice for the university to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and put into action the education concept of "health first". It is also a powerful step in promoting ethnic sports on campus and building a distinctive campus cultural brand. With sports and culture as the bridge, the entire university community has strengthened their bodies through physical activity, deepened their ethnic pride through handsof experiences, and forged unity through collaboration—further enhancing cultural confidence and national pride.

Looking ahead, the university will continue to integrate ethnic culture into all aspects of education, allowing traditional ethnic sports to take root and thrive on the campuses.

Stilt Walking Race

International student teams participated in the race of throwing embroidered balls into a back basket

Sharing the Prize — Roast Suckling Pigs

Lively Bamboo Dance

Department Website Auditors: Initially reviewed by Wei Liuyu, followed by a review by Chen Qing, and further reviewed by Wei Bipeng

University Website Auditors: Initially reviewed by Chen Chen, Publicity Department of the CPC LZPU Committee; finally reviewed by Luo Shihua, Publicity Department of the CPC LZPU Committee