Source: Publicity Department of the Party Committee

On April 14, Zhejiang Wanli University (ZWU) launched the 23rd Sports & Culture Art Festival alongside the 2nd Aesthetic Education Festival and Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) On-site Teaching Exhibition at the Qianhu Campus. Wang Weizhong, Secretary of the University Party Committee, Zhu Bangxiang, Deputy Party Secretary, Yu Dan, Vice President, and other university leaders, together with faculty and student representatives, attended the opening events.

Passion on the Field, Wellness on the Way

The Sports & Culture Art Festival opened at the Central Square in the afternoon. In attendance were Wang Weizhong, Zhu Bangxiang, Yu Dan, along with heads of the Publicity Department, Academic Affairs Office, Student Affairs Office, Graduate School, Campus Construction Department, Trade Union, School of Continuing Education, Physical Education & Arts Department, and Party secretaries from various colleges.

Warm-up performances by student band “Seven-Day Aurora” and aerobics gymnastics team fired up the atmosphere. Determined spirit and unwavering belief echoed through the melodies, as cheerleaders’ pom-poms and gymnasts’ arcs intertwined into a powerful declaration.

Zhu Bangxiang fired the starting gun for the faculty walking race. Nearly 700 staff set off from the Sky Garden and finished a 2.5-kilometer campus route, with simultaneous events at Yuyao and Ninghai Campuses. Yu Dan blew the whistle to start the tug-of-war competition. On the field, teams pulled with synchronized strength and deafening chants, creating a heated and thrilling atmosphere. Zheng Jiale, a member of the tug-of-war team from Class 24A1 of Law School, remarked, “The competition fully demonstrated our team’s technical skills, and each college team showed great performance and training outcomes.” 

Running from early April to mid-May, the festival includes 15 competitions drawing over 1,500 teachers and students. Besides classic sports such as football, tennis, table tennis and basketball, newly added events cover fitness challenges, ultimate frisbee and flag football, allowing youth shine through athletic efforts.

Charm of Intangible Heritage, Spirit of Craftsmanship

At noon on the same day, the “Ideological Education through Daily Life · Inheritance of Arts and Crafts” Aesthetic Education Festival and Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) On-site Teaching Exhibition opened along Cherry Blossom Avenue. Wang Weizhong, Zhu Bangxiang, and Yu Dan toured the exhibition of faculty and student ICH works, listened to detailed introductions by instructors, and learned about student participation, speaking highly of the university’s existing aesthetic education curriculum. 

A record-high 14 ICH stalls showcased handicrafts including sachet-making, dough sculpting, paper-cutting, bamboo weaving, sugar painting and green rice cake production, attracting students and faculty to immersive experiences. Traditional performances such as folk music, opera, and tea ceremony were also staged. Lu Ximing, an Electronic Information Engineering major from Class 23A2, participated in multiple ICH activities. “What impressed me most was making green rice cakes, from kneading the dough, wrapping the filling, to steaming them. Every step was hands-on, and I truly felt the craftsmanship and cultural flavor of this traditional delicacy.” She also found drawing sugar paintings delightful, experiencing the exquisite charm of ICH art.

The university has so far offered 13 public elective courses on ICH aesthetic education and over 10 hands-on workshops. New additions to this year’s festival include cloisonné mineral pigment painting, finger painting and plant rubbings, bringing ancient crafts to life through young hands.

Cultivating Minds via Sports, Nurturing Souls with Aesthetics

ZWU consistently prioritizes physical and aesthetic education, taking the two festivals as key platforms for campus culture development. The goal is to foster intellectual and emotional growth through sports, and cultural inheritance and spiritual enrichment through Aesthetics, guiding students to experience joy, build strength, develop character, and forge willpower on the sports field, while preserving cultural heritage and nurturing the soul through aesthetic engagement. Amid the radiance of spring, teachers and students gather on both competitive and artistic stages. With every stride, they salute their passion; with every crafted piece, they carry forward cultural lineage, embracing youth and a promising future together.