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USJ Hosts Tang Yuan Making Workshop for International Students to Experience Traditional Chinese Culture 

2026-03-02

02

Mar

02/03/2026

The Office For Student and Alumni Affairs organised a “Tang Yuan Making Workshop” for international students to learn traditional Chinese culture and foster cross-cultural exchange on campus!

In order to promote traditional Chinese culture and foster cross-cultural exchange on campus, the Office For Student and Alumni Affairs (OSAA) at USJ organised a “Tang Yuan Making Workshop” on 24 February at the USJ Ilha Verde Campus. The event gathered international students to experience the process of making tangyuan and learn more about traditional Chinese food. 

The activity was guided by OSAA staff members and the students kneaded the dough and wrapped the fillings to make the tangyuan. During the process, USJ students from various cultural backgrounds gained deeper insights into the meanings of “reunion,” “completeness,” and “happiness” inherent in Chinese culture, while also understanding the cultural significance of traditional food.

After finishing, the participants not only tasted the heartwarming tangyuan but also took away some food to share with their family and friends. Furthermore, OSAA specially distributed some of the tangyuan to other staff members and students of different nationalities on campus, letting more students have the opportunity to taste it, further promoting the appeal of Chinese culinary culture within campus. One of the students who came from Myanmar mentioned that they would prepare similar snacks during the New Year of the Myanmar calendar. He said the activity gave him a sense of home-coming and he enjoyed it a lot.

This Tangyuan Workshop was more than just a cooking experience as it deepened the non-local students’ understanding of traditional food culture, while simultaneously enhancing interaction among staff members and students, embodying the university’s diverse atmosphere.