Though the spring chill still lingers in Shanghai, the apricot trees are already bursting with brilliant blossoms. On March 14th, the "Blossom Bridge" International Apricot Blossom Life and Art Experience Journey, hosted by the International Education College of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, kicked off at the campus Apricot Blossom Bay. The trees, laden with pink and white blossoms, resembled clouds and snow. As a cheerful flute melody filled the air, the atmosphere instantly reached its peak. Over 200 international students gathered in Apricot Blossom Bay, strolling and playing, unlocking the joy of an East-meets-West fusion in the springtime.

In the apricot grove, students from different countries gathered, smiles on their faces regardless of their skin color. The busiest spot was the international food and culture fair. Students set up booths to showcase their home countries' specialties. People moved from booth to booth, tasting snacks and checking out handmade crafts. On the other side of the grove, someone played the guqin, the music carrying through the air. Students sat around tables, drinking goji berry and chrysanthemum tea or rose and tangerine peel tea, while playing a quiz game called "Chinese History: True or False?" Cheers for correct answers and laughter for wrong ones mixed together in the air.

Long lines formed at the interactive areas for lacquer fan DIY, intangible cultural heritage bookmark making, pitch-pot games, and Hanfu dress-up. At the Hanfu photo spot, students gathered under the trees, striking various poses. At the bookmark making area, they pressed fallen apricot petals between layers, adding dried wormwood and mint leaves to preserve the spring floral scent along with the fragrance of traditional Chinese herbs. The lacquer fan DIY area drew the biggest crowd. Ilya, a Russian student, painted apricot blossoms and goji berry branches on his fan. When he finished, he held it up for photos with the others.

"Blossom Bridge" uses apricot blossoms to connect two ideas: the bond between "apricot grove" and traditional Chinese medicine, and the theme of encounter. The college built this platform for international students to explore Chinese culture while sharing their own, fostering mutual understanding and the idea of "unity in diversity" through real interaction. The event was both a spring gathering and a practice in cross-cultural exchange. Every cultural moment shared brought people closer and added a spring memory to their time in Shanghai.

Source: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine