International teachers and students gather for a group photo. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Mid-Autumn Festival is often described as a time for family reunion, but for me, this year's festival offered a different kind of reunion – a shared experience that brought people from different countries together under the same moon.

International teachers and students from the university's School of Overseas Education (School of Foreign Languages) set out on a Mid-Autumn cultural journey on Sept 25 in Sanming's Shaxian county. Participants from 10 countries, including Bangladesh, Russia, and Uzbekistan, left the campus to experience the streets, courtyards, food stalls, and scenic areas of this historic part of Fujian province.

As evening approached, their first stop was Zhuangyuanfu Xiyuan, a traditional Chinese courtyard with grey-tiled roofs, brick walls, and elegant architecture that felt like stepping into another time. Walking through the old courtyard, the guests learned about traditional Chinese residential architecture and its cultural meaning.

But the experience was not only about looking; it was also about participation.

Here, the students and teachers learned how to prepare and serve Chinese tea, and experienced the etiquette and quiet rhythm of traditional tea culture. Sitting together, watching the tea being prepared and tasting it slowly, they discovered that tea in China is more than a drink; it is also a way to connect with others, relax, and appreciate the moment.

Then came another unforgettable part of the evening: Shaxian snacks.

Plates of local favourites, including mixed noodles, wontons, and steamed dumplings, were placed on the table one after another.

For many international participants, tasting these dishes was not simply a meal, it was an introduction to central Fujian's local culture. Each dish reflected local life and tradition. As the Chinese saying goes, "food has its own culture," and that evening brought this idea to life with every bite.

When darkness fell, we moved to Dongmen Old Street.

The atmosphere changed completely, with traditional buildings standing beneath colorful lanterns and the old stone-paved streets filled with the sounds and sights of everyday life. As we walked through the historic neighborhood, we passed traditional-style buildings and local shops, experiencing a blend of history and modern life.

For international students, such moments are particularly meaningful. China is often introduced through textbooks, classrooms, and lectures, but walking down an old street lets visitors experience the country in a much more personal way, allow they to see, hear, taste, and feel the culture.

The journey continued to Qifeng Diecui Scenic Area, where we watched the Most Beautiful Shaxian light show. Mountains and water formed the backdrop, while colourful lights created a spectacular picture of the city. More than an evening performance, it showed how a traditional county can develop while staying connected to its natural and cultural landscape.

Under the clear Mid-Autumn sky, the bright moon then appeared. Teachers and students from different countries stood together, looked at the same moon, and shared their thoughts about China, their studies, and their experiences.

In that moment, cultural differences seemed less important. Although they came from different countries, spoke different languages, and grew up with different traditions, they could all understand the beauty of gathering together beneath the moon.

For Chinese people, the Mid-Autumn Festival represents reunion and longing for family. For international students living far from home, that meaning can feel especially powerful. Although their families may be thousands of kilometers away, the festival gave them a chance to build an international family here in Sanming.

What made the experience special was that it took us beyond the university campus. Through architecture, tea, food, old streets, modern light shows, and moon-gazing, they experienced several dimensions of Fujian culture and Chinese life.

The university's cultural activities showed that international education is not limited to classrooms. Sometimes, the most meaningful lessons happen while walking through an ancient street, learning to make tea, tasting a local dish, or watching the moon rise over a Chinese city.

For international students and teachers, this Mid-Autumn journey was more than a festival celebration; it was a chance to understand China through direct experience and build friendships across cultures.

Thousands of years ago, people looked at the Mid-Autumn moon and thought of those far away. On this occasion, people from 10 different countries gathered in Sanming and discovered something equally beautiful: even when homes, languages, and cultures are different, a shared experience can bring people closer together.

That is perhaps the true spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival: not only reunion with family, but also friendship, understanding, and connection among people from around the world.

The author, Mohammad Saiyedul Islam, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the School of Overseas Education (School of Foreign Languages), Sanming University, Fujian, China, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Belt and Road Research Centre, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh.