To further strengthen cultural exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and to promote the development of an internationalised campus, the Student Affairs Office of Macau Polytechnic University (MPU) hosted the 4th Sino-Portuguese Cultural Festival. This year’s festival, themed “Cultural Integration and Co-creation of Diversity”, featured a variety of inspiring and interactive workshops along with the “Sino-Portuguese Carnival.” These activities aimed to broaden students’ international outlook and enhance cross-cultural competence, while fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment. The event drew more than 300 participants, including teachers and students, and was met with an enthusiastic response.

The “Sino-Portuguese Carnival” of the 4th Sino-Portuguese Cultural Festival at MPU combined cultural performances with an international food fair, showcasing the rich heritage and artistic charm of Chinese and Portuguese cultures. The cultural performances featured yangqin and pipa recitals, African dance, and ethnic singing, jointly presented by students from China, Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. These performances highlighted the cultural integration and co-creation of diversity among students from China and Portuguese-speaking countries, creating a warm and lively atmosphere. At the international food fair, students prepared dishes from various countries, allowing participants to savour the “most genuine” flavours while experiencing the beauty of cultural exchange.

MPU students performing the Brazilian Capoeira martial art dance with instructors

MPU students performing Portuguese Fado folk songs with instructors

The Cultural Festival also featured a “Brazilian Capoeira Workshop” and a “Portuguese Fado Singing Workshop,” both of which were warmly received by students. The Capoeira workshop allowed participants to experience this unique art form that blends martial arts, dance and music, through body movement and rhythm training, deepening their understanding of its cultural spirit and community values. The Fado workshop introduced students to vocal techniques and emotional expression, offering them an immersive experience of Portuguese musical culture.

Students who took part in the Sino-Portuguese Cultural Festival noted that it fosters cross-cultural understanding and provides an important platform for building friendships between peers from China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The festival also helps students strengthen their cultural identity and broaden their international outlook, reflecting the university’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive campus culture. The Student Affairs Office emphasises its dedication to continuing the promotion of international cultural exchange and to cultivating a more open and inclusive learning environment, enabling students to thrive in a multicultural setting. In doing so, the university makes a meaningful contribution to Macao’s role as a hub for Sino-Portuguese cultural exchange and international education.

MPU students performing yangqin and pipa recitals

MPU students from Portuguese-speaking countries performing African dance