Students craft lanterns at Chinese Embassy Open Day

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

More than 70 Malaysian and international students gathered at the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday to fold red paper lanterns, play traditional games and try on hanfu robes during an Open Day marking the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, known in Chinese as Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节), is one of China’s most significant traditional celebrations, Xu Sisheng, counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, told Bernama. He explained that the festival embodies themes of family reunion, peace and national prosperity, while also reflecting the longing of people separated from loved ones. In Malaysia, the festival has evolved to incorporate local customs, becoming a shared cultural experience that highlights the country’s multicultural identity.

Xu noted that these blended celebrations serve as a living example of civilisational exchange between China and Malaysia.

Xu characterised bilateral relations as a model of friendship between nations, built on a long history and shared aspirations. He pointed to President Xi Jinping’s 2023 state visit to Malaysia and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s subsequent visits to China as milestones that have deepened the strategic partnership. According to Bernama, Xu said the embassy will continue to foster youth exchanges, particularly through cultural programmes like the Open Day, to strengthen people-to-people ties.

Participants tried their hands at crafting paper lanterns, a festival staple often adorned with calligraphy or symbolic designs. They also played touhu (投壶), a traditional Chinese game where players throw arrows into a narrow vase, and competed in a mooncake-scooping challenge, using small spoons to retrieve mini mooncakes from a bowl of water. Many donned hanfu, the flowing, layered robes of ancient Chinese attire, posing for photos against a backdrop of red lanterns.

According to Bernama, the activities aimed to make abstract cultural traditions tangible through interactive learning.

Nurul Wafa Mohd Rosnan, a 16-year-old student from Sekolah Menengah Sains Tapah, said the Open Day gave her a clearer picture of Malaysia-China relations and technological advancements. She told Bernama that the programme is particularly valuable for students considering international careers, especially in China.

“It allows us to get to know China better,” she said, adding that she was excited to learn about the historical friendship between the two nations and China’s progress in artificial intelligence.

Thai international student Kuno Najma, 26, studying corporate communication at UPTM, described the event as a rare opportunity to experience Chinese culture firsthand. She told Bernama that many aspects of the festival were unfamiliar to her, having never visited China before. “Wearing traditional clothes and playing games I’d only seen in series made it feel real,” she said, highlighting how the hands-on activities bridged cultural gaps.

The embassy’s Open Day aligns with broader diplomatic efforts to deepen Malaysia-China ties, particularly in education and technology. Xu’s remarks echoed recent high-level engagements, including Anwar’s visits to China, which have focused on economic cooperation, artificial intelligence and infrastructure development. According to Bernama, the embassy will continue to organise similar events to engage Malaysian youth, reinforcing cultural and educational exchanges as pillars of the bilateral relationship.

The Mid-Autumn Festival’s blend of tradition and adaptation in Malaysia reflects the country’s ability to integrate diverse cultural practices. For students like Nurul Wafa and Kuno Najma, such programmes offer more than just cultural exposure—they provide a foundation for future collaborations, whether in academia, business or diplomacy. As Xu noted, these exchanges are not just about celebrating heritage but about building a shared future between two nations.

Related: Chinese Embassy in Malaysia · Xu Sisheng · Kuala Lumpur