On the evening of November 29th, the 15th "Song of Gathering · International Students' Night" cultural gala was grandly held at the Student Recreation Center of Beijing Normal University (BNU). The evening featured performances by international students from numerous countries and regions around the world. Distinguished guests from nine universities in Beijing, including Renmin University of China, Beijing Institute of Technology, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Minzu University of China, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing Jiaotong University, Capital Normal University, and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, along with leaders from various functional departments, faculties, and schools of BNU, attended the event.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the "Song of Gathering" brand event and the 60th anniversary of international student education at BNU. Sixty years of dedication have seen international students deeply integrated into the history of BNU's development. The gala kicked off with the powerful drumming performance "Heavy Snow." Structured around four thematic chapters – "Rhythms of the East: Echoes and Responses," "Global Encounters: Beats of the World," "Convergence: A Tapestry of Sound and Light," and "Gathering in Splendor: A Grand Finale" – the evening vividly illustrated the open-mindedness and humanistic spirit of BNU's international education through music, dance, drama, and language arts.
The first chapter, "Rhythms of the East: Echoes and Responses" showcased a blend of Eastern rhythms and diverse cultural flavors. The song and dance "Katyusha" evoked cross-border resonance with its classic melody, conveying profound Sino-foreign friendship. A medley of Chinese-style songs, "Half a Pot of Sand" and "Words of the Past," transported the audience to the serene landscapes of Southern China, while a dance compilation "Dancing Mountains and Rivers" displayed the passion and vigor of traditional dances from China's Uygur, Kazakh, and Tajik ethnic groups.
Global Encounters: Beats of the World
The second chapter, "Global Encounters: Beats of the World," took the audience on a journey through vibrant rhythms from around the globe. The song "Lose Control" instantly ignited the venue with its powerful and emotional performance; the Indonesian-style show "Spirit of Nusantara" brought the mysterious call of the rainforest; and "Trend Beats" set the atmosphere ablaze with dynamic K-POP dance moves, showcasing the passion and vitality of young students.
The second chapter, "Global Encounters: Beats of the World," took the audience on a journey through pulsating rhythms from around the globe. The song "Lose Control" ignited the atmosphere with its powerful delivery. The Indonesian performance "Spirit of Nusantara" brought the mysterious call of the tropical rainforest, and the dynamic K-Pop dance "Trendy Beats" fired up the crowd, showcasing the passion and energy of the young students.
Convergence: A Tapestry of Sound and Light
The third chapter, "Convergence: A Tapestry of Sound and Light," highlighted an artistic dialogue between tradition and modernity, East and West. A voice-acting segment "Sounds in Sync" recreated classic scenes from movies like Frozen and Beauty and the Beast, evoking fond childhood memories. The instrumental and vocal performance "Whispers of Reunion," with its clear vocals and energetic rhythm, exuded the warmth and power of South Asia. An innovative opera piece "Farewell My Concubine" combined the Guzheng with traditional opera, demonstrating the modern vitality of Chinese art.
The third chapter, "Convergence: A Tapestry of Sound and Light," highlighted an artistic dialogue between tradition and modernity, East and West. A voice-acting segment "Sounds in Sync" recreated classic scenes from movies like Frozen and Beauty and the Beast, evoking fond childhood memories. The instrumental and vocal performance "Whispers of Reunion," with its clear vocals and energetic rhythm, exuded the warmth and power of South Asia. An innovative opera piece "Farewell My Concubine" combined the Guzheng with traditional opera, demonstrating the modern vitality of Chinese art.
FINAL PART The final chapter, "Gathering in Splendor: A Grand Finale,"
The final chapter, "Gathering in Splendor: A Grand Finale," built to a climax with warmth and power. The guitar performance "Dive" offered a quiet, sincere soliloquy with simple chords and a gentle voice. "Sino-Foreign Bond: Bamboo Rhythm" integrated calligraphy, paper-cutting, painting, and recitation, comprehensively displaying the cultural literacy of international students from the International College of Chinese Studies. The martial arts performance "Spirit of Chinese Martial Arts" demonstrated great vigor and martial spirit. Finally, the event reached its peak as all performers joined in the chorus of "We Are The World," singing of the vision of a global community with a shared future.
The final chapter, "Gathering in Splendor: A Grand Finale," built to a climax with warmth and power. The guitar performance "Dive" offered a quiet, sincere soliloquy with simple chords and a gentle voice. "Sino-Foreign Bond: Bamboo Rhythm" integrated calligraphy, paper-cutting, painting, and recitation, comprehensively displaying the cultural literacy of international students from the International College of Chinese Studies. The martial arts performance "Spirit of Chinese Martial Arts" demonstrated great vigor and martial spirit. Finally, the event reached its peak as all performers joined in the chorus of "We Are The World," singing of the vision of a global community with a shared future.
Sixty years have passed like a song, and for an entire cycle of sixty, the flame of dedication has been passed from one generation to the next. Beijing Normal University’s education for international students has reaped heartfelt friendships that transcend borders and has built a remarkable legacy in international academic exchange.
“Song of Gathering · International Students’ Night,” a signature cultural event of Beijing Normal University, not only showcases the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture, but also vividly reflects the University’s open vision and cultural confidence—rooted in China, yet embracing the world.
Looking ahead, BNU will continue to advance the high-quality development of international education, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the world, and contribute its strength to fostering mutual learning and shared prosperity among diverse civilizations.
Sixty years have passed like a song, and for an entire cycle of sixty, the flame of dedication has been passed from one generation to the next. Beijing Normal University’s education for international students has reaped heartfelt friendships that transcend borders and has built a remarkable legacy in international academic exchange.
“Song of Gathering · International Students’ Night,” a signature cultural event of Beijing Normal University, not only showcases the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture, but also vividly reflects the University’s open vision and cultural confidence—rooted in China, yet embracing the world.
Looking ahead, BNU will continue to advance the high-quality development of international education, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the world, and contribute its strength to fostering mutual learning and shared prosperity among diverse civilizations.
Beijing Normal University (Beijing Normal University)
Abbreviated as "BNU", it is a key co-constructed university by the Ministry of Education and Beijing Municipality, directly administered by the Central Government. It is a national key university mainly featuring teacher education, educational sciences, and basic arts and sciences disciplines. It is listed among the national "Project 985", "Project 211", and "Double First-Class" (Category A) universities. During the "Seventh Five-Year Plan" and "Eighth Five-Year Plan" periods, it was one of the first batch of ten universities prioritized for national key construction. It has been selected for programs such as the "National Training Plan for Teachers", "Mount Everest Program", "101 Program", "Strong Foundation Program", "2011 Collaborative Innovation Center Program", "111 Plan", "Talent Program", Excellent Teacher Training Program, Excellent Legal Talent Education and Training Program, Beijing-Hong Kong Universities Alliance, Belt and Road International Science Organization Alliance, and China Universities Alliance for Planetary Sciences.
The predecessor of the university was the Normal School of the Imperial University of Peking, founded in 1902. In 1908, it was renamed the Imperial Advanced Normal School of Peking and became an independent institution. In 1912, it was renamed Beijing Higher Normal School. In 1923, it was renamed Beijing Normal University. In 1931 and 1952, Peking Women's Normal University and Fu Jen Catholic University were successively merged into Beijing Normal University. In April 2019, the Ministry of Education officially approved the establishment of the Zhuhai Campus.
