On the morning of September 20, 2026, the International Office of Shantou University hosted a Mid-Autumn Festive Reception and Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop on Snow-Skin Mooncake and Peach-Shaped Kueh Making at the Academic House, welcoming newly recruited international teachers and postdoctoral researchers, celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival together, and experiencing the best of traditional Chinese culture. More than 20 international faculty members, postdocs, and their families from seven different countries gathered to share the joy of a Mid-Autumn reunion.

At the start of the event, Song Haihong, Head of the International Office, extended Mid-Autumn greetings to all international faculty members on behalf of the department, and warmly welcomed the new colleagues who had just joined the STU family, encouraging them to contribute to the university's international development. She noted that the university currently has 43 international faculty members and 49 international postdoctoral researchers, and that every international colleague is a precious member of the STU family. She hoped that, while doing their best in teaching and research, everyone would also get to appreciate Chinese traditional culture and local Chaoshan customs through various activities, and enjoy both a rewarding career and a pleasant life at STU.

Then, Ms. Elvina from the International Office introduced the origin and customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival as well as the Chaoshan specialty, peach-shaped kueh. She introduced the classic folktale of "Chang'e Flying to the Moon," and then talked about the customs of eating mooncakes and admiring the moon on the night of the festival, helping international faculty members gain a deeper understanding of the cultural meaning behind Mid-Autumn traditions. Meanwhile, she also explained the Chaoshan kueh culture and the auspicious meanings of peach-shaped, pomegranate-shaped and triangle kueh. Among them, the peach-shaped kueh is moulded in the shape of a peach, which in Chinese culture symbolizes longevity and good fortune, carrying the wish for the health and well-being of the whole family. Pomegranate kueh and triangle kueh, on the other hand, are snacks often made and enjoyed during the "Chu Hua Yuan" coming-of-age ceremony for 15-year-old children in the Chaoshan region, conveying blessings and hopes for the children as they grow into adulthood. Filled with rich ingredients such as shiitake mushrooms, chestnuts, dried shrimps and sweet glutinous rice, these kuehs are a signature delicacy that has been passed down from generation to generation in the Chaoshan area.

The event specially invited the heritage inheritor from Jixiang Guopu to teach on site. Under the inheritor's careful guidance, the international guests had the chance to make two distinctive pastries with their own hands. During the snow-skin mooncake making session, international faculty and their families kneaded the dough skins, wrapped the fillings inside, and pressed them into beautifully round cakes with moulds, symbolizing family reunion. Next, everyone made Chaoshan peach-shaped kueh under the inheritor's instruction, learning the techniques for three traditional kuehs — peach-shaped, pomegranate-shaped and triangle kueh. They shaped the kueh skins into different forms and felt the craftsmanship of Chaoshan culture with their fingertips.

The event came to a close amid laughter and joy. The guests all said that by making festival pastries with their own hands, they not only gained a deeper understanding of Chinese Mid-Autumn customs and Chaoshan intangible cultural heritage, but also felt the warmth of STU as a home. It is worth mentioning that the international teachers also learned how to pronounce "hong tao guo" during the event, and shouted "I Love红桃粿" in unison while taking a group photo, ending this cultural gathering with a slightly clumsy yet sincere sentence in Chinese. At last, everyone took a group photo together to capture this warm and beautiful moment, and brought the pastries they had made back home to share the sweetness and blessings of the Mid-Autumn Festival with their friends and families.

This event was organized by the International Office of STU, aiming at promoting cultural exchange between China and other countries. It not only allowed international teachers to feel the charm of traditional Chinese festivals, but also strengthened their sense of belonging and happiness, fostering mutual learning and exchange among diverse cultures.

Written by: International Office

Translated by: Zeng Jialing