International Cultural Bazaar celebrates diversity

The Second International Cultural Bazaar, hosted at XJTLU on 29 March, drew hundreds of students to multicultural experiences.

A student shows attendees how to play the drum

The event featured four themed zones – America, Europe, Africa, and Asia – each offering unique interactive experiences, including henna tattoo painting, bracelet crafting, African drumming, and Chinese calligraphy.

The Club Programme Office

Organised by the Student Club Support Centre and co-organised by the Club Programme Office and the International Business Language Culture Association (ILCA), the bazaar also served as a platform for student clubs to attract new members.

A group of students enjoy the event

Representatives from more than 130 clubs and societies arranged cross-cultural exchange activities to engage students. Attendees also watched performances by art and sports clubs such as the Drama Troupe, Movie Club, and Cheerleading Club.

The Africa zone

Seven food stalls at the bazaar provided attendees with a taste of global flavours, with options including pizza, hot dogs, sushi, tiramisu, and milk tea.

Henna tattoos in the America zone

“The purpose of the International Cultural Bazaar is to immerse participants in rich multicultural experiences,” said Arushi Agrawal, President of ILCA and a Year Four student from India.

“We would also like to encourage more people, especially new students, to join the diverse clubs our university offers,” she said.

A student learns more about XJTLU's clubs

Ahmed Mohamed, a Year Three BEng Computer Science and Technology student from Egypt, expressed his appreciation for the event’s inclusivity.

He said: “I really enjoy the diversity this event offers. It allows us to experience other cultures, enjoy different foods, and meet people from various backgrounds.”

Students make refreshments for the bazaar's attendees

Yuxing Wu, a master’s student in MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation, travelled from the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) with a friend specifically for the bazaar.

“There are always many interesting events at the SIP Campus, and this one is no exception. We’ve taken part in numerous activities and met a lot of people,” she said.

The Drama Troupe performs Villa Transfer

Louise Charpiot, a Year Three industrial design exchange student from Cergy University, France, shared her excitement about the bazaar: “I am deeply impressed by the great atmosphere of this event, and I really enjoy the performances and music.”

A Chinese music performance

Giulia Vitali, an Italian exchange student studying for an MA in Language and Management in China at Ca’Foscari University of Venice, attended the event to look for interesting clubs.

“I would like to join the archery club,” she said. “I’m also going to go around and see if there are any other clubs that I am interested in.”

The Animal Welfare Club

Representatives from one of XJTLU's many student clubs

By Katharina Zhu

Edited by Catherine Diamond and Tamara Kaup