On December 5, the 2025 "Study in Beijing" Review and International Students' "Beijing Night" event—hosted by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and organized by Capital Normal University—was successfully held. As the highest-specification international student cultural exchange event among capital universities this year, leaders from the Ministry of Education, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, relevant Beijing municipal departments, and principals of various universities attended. More than 40 Chinese and foreign students from over 20 countries at China University of Geosciences participated enthusiastically.
01 Flag Dance and Tai Chi Showcase Grace, Exotic Flavors Bloom on Stage
The stage performances of our university's international students focused on two distinctive segments: the magnificent opening program "Prosperous Era and Beijing Splendor", where Chinese and foreign students from our university performed flag dance, Tai Chi, and broadsword techniques. As the drums and music played, the flag team, holding red flags, waved them into neat and powerful arcs. The flags fluttered like rainbows and rosy clouds, instantly igniting the atmosphere at the scene. The Tai Chi performance, with its dynamic-static contrasts and combination of hardness and softness, showcased the profound heritage of Chinese philosophy. The students vividly interpreted Tai Chi's harmony and integration, which complemented the joyous dragon and lion dances—together forming a vivid scroll of traditional Chinese cultural charm. In the diverse "Youth Dance Collection", our university's Turkmenistan students presented traditional Turkmen dances. Dressed in ethnic costumes, they used graceful body language and unique rhythmic beats to showcase the youth and vitality of Central Asian young people.
02 Forty-Five Days of Polishing, Over Twenty Refinements
"One minute on stage takes ten years of practice off stage." The perfect stage performance stemmed from 45 days and nights of sweat behind the scenes. Since mid-October, participating students have undergone intensive training from scratch. For students new to martial arts, flag dance required strong arm control and team rhythm, while Tai Chi focused on sensing internal breathing and rhythm. Under Coach Li Wenbo of the School of Physical Education, students learned basic flag-holding postures and cloud-hand movements, repeating them until muscle memory formed. Flag dance evolved from uneven to synchronized; Tai Chi grew from superficial similarity to spiritual resonance—every progress detail reflected the coaching team's careful guidance and students' hard work. The 10-member Turkmenistan dance team carried the wish to bring Central Asian culture to the Beijing stage. They gathered in spare time, refining every detail—gestures, steps, expressions, rhythm—to showcase authentic ethnic charm in their limited segment.
During over 45 days of systematic rehearsals (more than 20 times total), with strong support from Dean Ma Kai of the School of Physical Education and Director Kang Zhizhong of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, Teacher Li Wenbo, part-time international student counselors Zhang Cuina and Ye Yitao, and participating students braved hardships, efficiently balancing study and rehearsals to lay a solid foundation for the wonderful performance. This period of joint struggle and mutual support not only perfected the program but also strengthened the cohesion of this cross-border team.
03 Youth as Brushstrokes to Paint Integration, Cultural Resonance to Build Bridges
Wu Feiyu (undergraduate, School of Geophysics and Information Technology, Turkmenistan origin): At the wonderful "Beijing Night" cultural feast, my partners and I presented my hometown's cultural charm to the audience. When the music started and dance steps unfolded, I seemed to bring Turkmenistan's grasslands to the Beijing stage. This was not just a performance—it was a way to share our proud culture with friends worldwide through dance. Wu Xinke (Chinese language student, Turkmenistan origin): As a student from Turkmenistan, I feel extremely happy to step onto the "Beijing Night" stage and join this cultural exchange via dance. My program included both hard-and-soft Tai Chi and Turkmen dances. Standing on stage, watching arts from different countries blend, I deeply felt: though cultures differ, the emotions and strength conveyed through music and dance are universal.
