On April 10, the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) launched the 2024 Culture Month, marking a celebration of arts and cultural activities at the University. Hosted at the Future Square on campus, the opening event was organized by the Center for the Arts.

Hong JIANG, University Council Chairperson, and Ling ZHANG, University Council Vice-Chairperson, alongside other members of the University’s leadership team, attended the event.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Yuehong CHEN, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, where a collection of students’ artworks was showcased, reflecting the creativity and ingenuity of youth.

Beneath the shade of the century-old banyan tree, hundreds of faculty members and students congregated to partake in the diverse cultural activities.

In her remarks at the opening ceremony, Chairperson Hong JIANG emphasized the significance of the annual Culture Month in fostering an appreciation for culture and aesthetics. She underscored its important role in SUSTech’s journey as a “Double First-Class” university and nurturing innovative talents.

Looking ahead, she expressed her aspirations for the University to continue championing cultural and artistic pursuits, offering immersive and enriching experiences for the campus community.

The opening performance of the 2024 Culture Month was led by the Shenzhen Concert Hall, which was invited to perform a rendition of “Beautiful Sunday”. Renowned folk music artists such as Yi WANG, Hui XU, Xi SHEN, Ni AI, Xiaoyu LIANG, and Fei YANG treated the audience to a captivating musical experience.

Additionally, faculty members and students showcased their musical talent through a diverse range of performances, featuring traditional folk melodies and contemporary pop music.

They included ensembles, solo recitals of the erhu (a two-stringed bowed musical instrument) and guzheng (a plucked zither), bamboo flute renditions, and zhongruan (a plucked string instrument) performances, which captivated the audience’s attention.

The Symphony Orchestra of SUSTech also contributed to the musical tapestry with a mesmerizing zhongruan solo titled “Torch Festival” and a guzheng ensemble piece titled “Butterfly and Blue”.

Throughout the event, the artists not only garnered applause from the spectators but also provided a deeper understanding of the rich history and cultural significance of national music.

In the coming month, SUSTech will host over ten cultural and artistic events, including concerts, art workshops, open art classes, exhibitions, folk music performances, calligraphy sessions, and dance performances. These activities aim to engage faculty members and students in the promotion and exploration of traditional Chinese culture, instilling cultural pride, enhancing aesthetic appreciation, and fostering humanistic values.