The aroma of freshly made dumplings mingled with laughter and ink as Wenzhou University(WZU) welcomed the Year of the Horse with a traditional Chinese New Year celebration for students remaining on campus over the holiday break.

More than 50 students from China and around the world gathered at the university’s Yikoule Restaurant on Feb. 10 for an immersive cultural experience. University leaders, including Deputy Party Secretary Zhuang Xingzhong and Vice President Wang Shun, joined students in making dumplings, writing Spring Festival couplets and playing touhu, an ancient Chinese pitch-pot game.

The dumpling-making station quickly became the heart of the celebration. International students, guided by Chinese classmates and teachers, carefully folded wrappers around fillings, creating trays of dumplings in various shapes and sizes.

“Back home, we have nothing like this,” said Fazliddin, a student from Uzbekistan, holding up his handiwork with a grin. “My dumplings may not win any beauty contests, but now I understand what ‘reunion’ means.”

Across the room, the calligraphy table drew a crowd of aspiring artists. Students dipped brushes in ink and painted characters on red paper, transforming well-wishes into art. Phrases like "Good Luck in the Year of the Horse" and "I Love WZU" joined traditional "Fu" characters on drying racks, with students eagerly claiming their favorites as souvenirs.

Shouts of encouragement erupted from the touhu corner, where competitors took turns tossing arrows into narrow-necked pots—a game dating back more than 2,000 years that tests both aim and composure. Each successful toss drew applause and playful groans from rivals.

University officials moved easily between activities, chatting with students about their holiday plans and studies. "Consider this campus your home," Zhuang told the group. "We want every student here—whether you traveled across town or across the globe—to feel the warmth and joy of this season."

Vice President Wang later visited international student dormitories, delivering New Year greetings and checking on students' needs during the break.

For many international students, the evening marked their first encounter with Chinese New Year traditions. By the event's end, friendships had formed over shared meals of self-made dumplings, and students departed carrying red couplets and new understandings of a culture celebrated by a quarter of the world's population.

The celebration reflected WZU's commitment to building bridges between cultures—one dumpling, one brushstroke, one arrow toss at a time.