International students from Russia, South Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Ecuador had the chance to make mooncakes and herbal bead bracelets at Kuankhouli block in Lixia district, Jinan, on Sept 23.

They were taking part in a Mid-Autumn cultural event aimed at giving them a better understanding of Mid-Autumn festival customs and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) culture.

In the TCM experience area, students learned about the uses of different herbs and the cultural heritage of TCM before making their own bracelets under the guidance of instructors. In the mooncake workshop, they followed the traditional process of preparing the dough, adding fillings, and shaping the cakes.

For many of them, it was their first time making mooncakes. The hands-on experience helped the students better understand the cultural meaning of reunion represented by the festival, while making them feel like part of the community.

International students make mooncakes during a Mid-Autumn Festival cultural experience event in Lixia district, Jinan. [Photo/WeChat account: Jinan International Communication Center]