On April 7, two international students from our university made an appearance at the 2026 Guyu Poetry Festival in Poyang County, themed “Poetic Rhymes Among Flowers at Guyu Louxia.” Together with local poetry enthusiasts, they engaged in a cross-cultural dialogue through the medium of poetry.  

The festival opened amid the fragrance of peonies and melodious string music. Our students, along with other international students from local universities, took the stage and recited the poem National Beauty: The Peony in both Chinese and English, gracefully conveying the flower’s elegance and the essence of Eastern poetics. Later, they walked into a peony garden in full bloom, performing lively kuaiban (a traditional rhythmic storytelling form) and singing about peonies among the flowers and ancient village houses. Their fresh, immersive approach allowed them to experience the beauty of classical Chinese poetry and the idyllic charm of rural life. 

 “It was the first time I performed kuaiban on an ancient village stage, and even more exciting to recite poems surrounded by real peonies,” said Gan Yue, an international student from the university’s School of Chinese Language and Literature. “Peonies symbolize prosperity and good fortune in Chinese culture. Through this experience, I’ve come to understand the unique affection Chinese people have for peonies. Reciting poetry on the spot felt absolutely wonderful.”  

The Guyu Poetry Festival not only enriched local grassroots cultural life and showcased the vitality of literary creation in Poyang, but also offered international students a vivid window into contemporary China and Jiangxi Province. It serves as a unique platform for them to tell China’s stories and share the beauty of Chinese poetry with the world.