As diplomatic ties turn 50, students in Guilin find common ground in paper, flowers, and floating wishes.

December 3, 2025 | GUILIN

On the surface, it was a lesson in paper folding and petal arranging. But for the Chinese and Thai students gathered in Guilin last week, building floating lanterns together became a quiet, powerful metaphor for building understanding itself.

The workshop was the centerpiece of a joint celebration between Guangxi Normal University (GXNU) and Guilin University, honoring both the Thai Loy Krathong Festival and the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations. Titled “China-Thailand Family, Lanterns Light the Friendship Road,” the event saw about 50 Thai international students guiding their Chinese peers through the traditional craft.

Tradition as a Shared Language

The celebration opened with Thai students performing the elegant Sa Hua folk dance, a flowing introduction to Thailand’s cultural heritage. Then, the focus shifted from performance to partnership.

At long tables strewn with colored paper, fresh flowers, and candles, small mixed groups got to work. Instructions flowed in a blend of Thai, Chinese, and universal gestures. “It’s not about making it perfect,” explained one Thai student, helping a partner secure a banana leaf base. “It’s about the intention you put into it. You make a wish as you build.”

The Unspoken Dialogue of Making

The real exchange happened in the focused silence of concentration, the shared laugh over a lopsided lotus petal, and the mutual satisfaction of lighting a candle together. “We weren’t just talking about culture,” reflected Li Wei, a Chinese student. “We were inside it, using our hands. My Thai partner didn’t just show me how to fold paper; she told me about the river festivals back home, why we use these flowers. It made the connection real.”

Beyond a Single Flame

University officials present framed the event as a microcosm of their international education mission. “Academic knowledge builds expertise, but shared experiences like this build empathy,” said a GXNU coordinator. “These students aren’t just learning about each other’s countries; they are creating a personal stake in each other’s futures.”

As dusk approached, the completed lanterns, each a unique mosaic of dual heritage, were set adrift together—a luminous fleet of hopes on water. In that moment, the careful craftsmanship of the afternoon translated into a simple, glowing truth: that the most enduring connections are often built not through grand declarations, but through the patient, shared act of creating something beautiful, side by side.

Thai students from Guangxi Normal University perform the traditional folk dance Sa Hua.

Chinese and Thai students complete floating lanterns together

Chinese and Thai faculty and students pose for a group photo

Photo by Chun Long

Written by Wei Bingyan

Reviewed by Yang Feng, Sun Zhonghui, Qin Xiaojie