Pakistani Student Immerses in Guangxi’s Cultural Festivities

NANNING – A Pakistani student, Muhammad Umar Rafiq, embraced the rich traditions of China’s San Yue San festival in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The festival, celebrated on March 31, was a vibrant display of music, traditions, and cultural diversity.

Studying at Guangxi Vocational and Technical Institute of Industry, Umar actively participated by singing with classmates from various ethnic groups, tasting traditional cuisine, and engaging in Zhuang folk games. He described the experience as an eye-opener to the openness and diversity of Chinese culture.

One of the highlights was trying five-colored glutinous rice, a traditional dish symbolizing good fortune and harvest. He also joined the exhilarating bamboo pole jumping game, overcoming his initial hesitation with the encouragement of friends.

Umar also took part in a live-streamed cultural event, where he and his classmates, dressed in traditional attire, introduced the festival’s history to a wider audience. He praised the festival’s inclusivity, noting that international students seamlessly became part of the celebrations.

With Guangxi positioning San Yue San as a key platform for China-ASEAN cultural exchange, foreign students are now learning Zhuang folk arts, with some planning to share their experiences back home.

Reflecting on his year in Guangxi, Umar expressed his admiration for the coexistence of diverse regional cultures and vowed to share Guangxi’s stories with his friends in Pakistan.

As the festival’s melodies echoed across the campus, Umar realized that San Yue San was not just a celebration—it was a powerful testament to the beauty of cultural exchange

Published in The Gwadar Post