On the afternoon of September 26, 2025, a delegation of 33 professional talents and students from German universities in the fields of engineering, business, and IT, organized by the German University Consortium for International Cooperation (DHIK), visited School of Foreign Languages of Peking University for an exchange. Some student representatives from the German Department of Peking University, School of Foreign Languages (hereinafter referred to as PKU students from the German Dept.) had a warm and friendly interaction with the visiting students from various parts of Germany (hereinafter referred to as German students). Professor SONG Yayun, Executive Director of the National Language and Writing Promotion Base of Peking University., attended, while LIN Lin, a faculty member from the Department of German Language and Literature, hosted the event.
During the activity, PKU students from the German Dept. showcased China’s traditional and contemporary popular culture to the visiting German students from multiple perspectives, including language, culture, and history, through organizing mini-lectures, interactive games, and campus tours. The young people from both countries exchanged ideas about their respective national cultures, education, and campus life during the display of traditional culture, game experiences, and interactive conversations. In a lively and harmonious atmosphere, they enhanced their understanding of each other’s languages and countries and improved their language practice abilities through.
The School of Foreign Languages invited a prestigious calligrapher, Professor FANG Jianxun, to give a lecture on Chinese calligraphy. In the lecture, Professor FANG introduced various aspects of appreciating calligraphy, such as brushstrokes, structure and rhythm. He also wrote a cursive script scroll of LI Bai’s poem “Invitation to Wine” with vigorous strokes and free-flowing style, which was met with rounds of applause. DUAN Xinyuan, a MA student of the German Department of the class of 2025, served as the interpreter for the lecture.
Chinese and German Students attending Chinese Calligraphy Lecture
After the wonderful calligraphy lecture, PKU students led German students to continue exploring the rich and colorful Chinese culture through carefully designed games. LIU Zijing, a MA student of the German Department of the class of 2023, hosted the “Grouping by Numbers” game that quickly enlivened the atmosphere and enabled the students from both countries to build friendships through interaction. SUN Sihuang, an outstanding undergraduate student representative of the “Public Basic German” course from the School of Law of the class of 2023, and MA Xiyu, an undergraduate student of the German Department of the class of 2024, jointly hosted the “Pantomime Guessing” game. In this session, students worked in groups to act out iconic Chinese and German cultural terms (e.g., “Great Wall,” “Mooncake,” “Faust,” etc.) through body language. Students fully mobilized their imagination, contributing many ingenious ideas and making the atmosphere more and more lively.
LIU Zijing hosting the “Grouping by Numbers” game
SUN Sihuang (left) and MA Xiyu (right) hosting the “Pantomime Guessing” game
Chinese and German Students Participating in the “Pantomime Guessing” game
LI Bingyi and GU Jierei, both undergraduate students of the 2024 class, hosted the “Guandan” card game competition. Two students first introduced the rules of the game in German and then guided Chinese and German students in jointly experiencing the fun of the Chinese card game. The “Guandan” game aroused the curiosity of German students, who participated actively, and honed their skills, bringing the atmosphere to a climax. During breaks, the German students also introduced traditional German card games and their rules. By experiencing the similarities and differences in the origins, designs, and rules of the card and board games of the two countries, the students further deepened their understanding of each other’s cultures.
Chinese and German Students Learning the Rules of the “Guandan” Game
At the conclusion of the event, PKU students from the German Dept. accompanied their German counterparts on a tour of the beautiful Peking University campus, introducing the history and evolution of the campus, sharing stories about the university and its iconic landmarks. German students listened attentively as they explored the rich history of Peking University and Yanyuan Garden. They were impressed by the beauty of PKU campus and stopped to take photos at classic spots in Yanyuan Garden such as the Weiming Lake, the Boya Pagoda, the Foreign Languages Building, the New Sun Student Center, and the Library.
This event, with language as the key, culture as the bridge, and youth as the priority, offered German students a window into China and a deeper understanding of Peking University. It also provided an opportunity for young people from both China and Germany to communicate across national borders, enhancing their appreciation for each other’s cultures in a real-life setting.
The event has received strong support from the National Language and Writing Promotion Base of Peking University.
Text/Images: TANG Yinze, MA Xiyu, LI Bingyi, GU Jierei, SUN Sihuang
Source: Continuing Education Office, School of Foreign Languages
Translated by Zhao Lihua