Diverse Activities
Peking University offers a rich and colorful campus life.Events such as the Peking University International Culture Festival and the International Students’ New Year Party are held annually and have become major cultural extravaganzas;a wide range of thoroughly designed lectures, courses, Chinese knowledge courses, and the "China Deep Dive" Project for international students are carried out simultaneously; in addition, through the student overseas study programs, international students go out of Peking University to explore the world. The campus life at Peking University is inclusive, open, and diverse, providing an unforgettable and precious life experience for students from all over the world during their time at Peking University and in China.
Visits by Presidents or Ministers of State
Every year, Peking University hosts over 1,000 distinguished guests, including national leaders, outstanding scholars, Nobel laureates, university presidents, and influential figures from various fields, who deliver lectures, teach courses, or engage in meaningful discussions. A series of excellent platforms, such as the "Peking University Top Scholars Lecture Program", have built a bridge for international students to communicate with the world and show their talents. International student representatives actively participate in every exchange activity. During visits by important figures such as the President of Italy, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Prime Minister of Nepal, Nobel laureates in Physics, and the Minister of Education of Vietnam, they engage in in-depth conversations and discussions with the guests, and attentively listen to their fascinating insights.
International Culture Festival
As a landmark campus event at Peking University, the International Culture Festival has been successfully held 21 times since its set up in 2004. It is an annual campus event that showcases the talents of both Chinese and international students and offers a chance to experience diverse cultures. During the festival each year, international students from over 50 countries and regions across five continents actively participate. They set up exhibition booths, carefully and creatively decorating them to showcase the unique charm of their respective countries. A series of exciting activities are held during the festival, including joint performances by Chinese and international students, international food plaza, international handicraft workshops, cultural experiences of traditional games from various countries, and the Top Ten Singer Contest for international students, demonstrating the talented and passionate youthfulness of students from around the world.
Global Exchange@PKU
The Global Exchange@PKU series is a comprehensive platform for communication andinteraction between international exchange students at Peking University and its faculty andstudents. This project aims to expand communication channels and foster understanding andmutual learning between different disciplines and cultures through a variety of rich and diverseactivities. The project includes interdisciplinary academic round-table discussions, such as"Exchange Cafe"; Understanding-China-themed activities such as "Opening Talk", "CampusAmbassador Initiative", and "Chinese Traditional Festival Reading Club", as well as practicallearning activities such as "Exploring the Land of China ".These activities not only promoteacademic development but also strengthen the interaction and cooperation between Chinese andinternational students, and between Chinese and foreign universities.
Aesthetic Education Base for International Students and Scholars
In 2022, Peking University launched the "Aesthetic Education Base for International Students and Scholars”, an innovative platform dedicated to planning and implementing a series of vibrant activities aimed to deepening aesthetic education and continuously expanding open cultural and artistic space. Since its establishment, the base has successfully organized numerous popular art classes among international students, including "All about Peking Opera", "A Comparison of Chinese and Foreign Music Aesthetics", "Entering the Music World of the Yangqin" and "Discovering Ballet". International students and scholars have enhanced their understanding and respect for different cultures while enjoying the beauty.
Orientation for International Students
Every year, the International Students Division organizes a series of welcome and orientation activities for new international students. During the on-site registration, we provide a one-stop service experience, including visa interviews, insurance purchases, medical check-up appointments, and self-service printing. Dozens of Chinese and international student volunteers are also on hand to offer patient guidance and assistance, ensuring a warm and welcoming first experience on campus.Following the registration, the International Students Division hosts a “Freshman Training Camp for International Students”. This camp features a variety of activities, such as legal education sessions, experience-sharing talks, team-building exercises, club introductions, and ice-breaking activities. These programs are designed to help new international students integrate into Peking University, understand Chinese culture, and build lasting connections.
"Beijing Night" for International Students in Beijing
"Beijing Night" for international students in Beijing is a common cultural brand among Beijing universities, providing opportunities for international students from various schools to show their talents. In 2024, more than 30 international students from Peking University prepared the "International Ethnic Costume Show: 'A Kaleidoscope of Fashion, Spreading Beauty Worldwide'", presenting their unique charm through the characteristic costumes of different countries. The entire event, with the theme of "Chasing Dreams across Mountains and Seas, Encountering the Splendor of Beijing", constructed an international stage across cultures, countries, and universities through four chapters, showing the story of growth and success of international students.
Peking University Asian Youth Exchange Center
The Peking University Asian Youth Exchange Center is an important platform that promotes cultural exchanges and friendly cooperation among Asian youth. The project innovatively adopts a co-living model for Chinese and international students. Each session selects a group of Chinese students and International students from Asia to live in pairs in an apartment and jointly manage and plan the activities within the project. A series of activities are held, such as lacquer-fan making, dormitory visits, sports competitions, and book club activities, to promote cultural exchanges and understanding among Asian youth.
Talent Showcase
Peking University provides international students with the opportunity to show their talents through media platforms. Students participate in the filming of various feature productions, including English promotional video of Beijing and documentary series by China Media Group. These productions have been widely spread on both Chinese and international media platforms such as the official website of the Beijing Municipal Government and China News. These filming projects offer international students at Peking University an immersive experience of Chinese traditional culture while providing a platform to showcase their unique talents.
Diverse Student Societies
There are currently more than 200 student societies at Peking University, offering a diverse range of activities and rich content. Many of them focus on Chinese-foreign cooperation and exchange, including the International Exchange Association, the Model United Nations Association, the China-US, China-Japan, China-South Korea, and China-EU exchange associations. The international student community actively participates in the activities of these societies and often holds leadership or core member positions, continuously promoting the internationalization of the campus culture at Peking University. The Peking University Student International Exchange Association (SICA), established in 1997, is the first student society dedicated to international exchange among Chinese universities and has established cooperative relationships with universities around the world.
At the same time, the International Students Division of the Office of International Relations at Peking University takes the lead in forming an international student assistant team, recruiting more than 50 Chinese and international members. As a youthful force, this team plays and active role in campus affairs and provide liaison services to the international student community. The team's work is comprehensive, covering a wide range of areas including enrollment consultation, activity organization and planning, as well as manuscript translation. It plays an important role in activities such as the orientation for international students, the freshman training camp, the application and employment experience-sharing sessions, and the reception of foreign guests.
Dormitory Activities
Peking University’s Global Village organizes a variety of well-curated dormitory activities for international students, such as the Traditional Chinese Culture Experience Week, Summer Tea Gathering on the Start of Summer Solar Term, Traditional Chinese Medicine Wellness Class, Flower Arrangement and Succulent DIY Workshop, “Fortune Pastry” Cooking Class, and Winter Solstice Culinary Event. Through these activities, international students not only gain hands-on experience in traditional Chinese culture and specialty food preparation but also have the opportunity to exchange and share their own cultural customs with students from other countries. These dormitory activities enrich students’ lives outside the classroom, providing a warm living environment and a convenient platform for communication. They help international students better adapt to campus life and further enhance the international atmosphere of Peking University’s campus culture.
New Year Party for International Students and Experts
As a grand annual event to celebrate new beginnings, Peking University meticulously organizes the New Year Party for International Students and Experts. The event includes a variety of cultural and artistic performances, unique experiences at Chinese traditional culture workshops, as well as fascinating interactive games. Foreign experts, scholars, international students from various countries, representatives of international student alumni, and guests from both inside and outside the university gather together. Amidst the festive and welcoming atmosphere, participants immerse themselves in the unique charms of traditional Chinese festivals while sharing warm New Year wishes. Since its inception, this event has long been a welcomed and highly-praised reunion event among teachers and students of the whole university.
"The First Run of the Semester" and "Night Run"
"The First Run of the Semester" at Peking University invites Olympic athletes and specially sets up an international student phalanx. New international students from around the world gather together with Peking University’s local freshmen to kick off the new semester with enthusiasm and hope. The First Run includes a variety of warm-up activities, fostering cooperation and interaction among students, which in turn strengthens their friendship. The "Night Run" at Peking University is a campus activity specially designed to encourage physical exercise among faculty and students. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, music is played on the Wusi Sports Field to accompany the runners. The Night Run is a great chance for Peking University students to exercise and enjoy their youth.
