At 16:00 on November 28, 2025, the "Unite for a Shared Dream · Enjoy the South Lake" Lawn Music Festival, organized by the Graduate Union of the School of Finance, kicked off vividly at the South Lake Greenway.Ms. Wang Zhengjun, Vice Dean of the School of International Education, Ms. Li Jiaqi and Ms. Zhu Yajie, International Student Counselors, Ms. Wang Xiujing, Director of the Graduate Office of the School of Finance, together with Mr. Guo Dong, Ms. Cao Chenlu and Mr. Wang Ziang from the Graduate Office, attended this cross-cultural musical gathering alongside more than 200 representatives of mainland students and international students.

The music festival kicked off enthusiastically with the dance "DO THE DANCE" performed by students including Su Yixiao and Xu Xiaoyu. Their dynamic dance moves and vivid rhythms instantly ignited the on-site atmosphere, immersing audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds in the vigorous vitality of youth.

With the theme "Unite for a Shared Dream · Enjoy the South Lake", this music festival aimed to build a cross-cultural communication platform for mainland students and international students. Taking musical notes as the link, it connected the youthful resonance across different languages and cultures, allowing everyone to make friends through music by the South Lake and co-create beautiful memories of the integration of diverse cultures.

As the gentle breeze swept across South Lake, the music gradually filled the air. In the first half, Chen Huihui sang "A Little Luck" softly, voicing the tender expectations of youth—her delicate vocals wrapping the venue in warmth. Zhao Zhihao blended emotions into the melody of "Like the Wind," whispering the subtle thoughts of daily life. Yuan Jieyu brought sweet romance with "Calla Lily Love," evoking the flutters of innocent affection. International student representatives Francia, Stéphanie, Éric, and Catherine performed the dance "Island Hopping Journey," depicting exotic charm through their vivid movements and immersing the audience in the vibrant atmosphere of cultural diversity. Meanwhile, Shang Di and Hou Junyan’s duet "ALWAYS ONLINE" sang of connection and companionship in the digital age with an upbeat rhythm.

After the first half came to an end, the intermission song-guessing interaction took over to keep the atmosphere lively. Students formed teams on-site, engaging in 13 rounds of thrilling competitions: As soon as the preludes of iconic national songs like "Rice Fragrance" and "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond" started playing, students rushed forward to grab the microphones and sing along. The audience swayed gently to the melodies, with humming and laughter interweaving into a unique musical movement. Teams earned one point for each correct answer, and the team with the highest score in the end won a special prize. The glowing lights on-site flickered more intensely with cheers, and the sense of connection through music grew even stronger amid the interaction.

The melody continued to resonate, and the excitement returned in full force. The second half kicked off with a bang: international student representatives including Thuy, Nhi, and Huyen presented the dance "Let 'Rice' Tell You," whose vivid choreography showcased the cultural charm of their hometowns, with movements brimming with life. Ma Xiangyu performed two consecutive songs, "Wei Wu (Might)" and "NOT GOOD," and his explosive stage presence kept the audience cheering nonstop. Li Shanhao and Zhu Wenna's "JUST FUNKY" delivered dynamic energy through a trendy performance. Zhang Xiaofan's "DEADMAN" expressed a unique personal attitude with his distinctive vocals. Yuan Jieyu and He Shuoqiu's duet "Rose in the Palm" touched hearts by singing the entanglement of emotions. The dance "Pulse of the Grasslands" by international student representatives such as Arsen and Zhanayim displayed the unrestrained passion of their ethnic culture through bold and graceful dance steps and beautiful accompaniment.

As the festival drew to a close, the melody grew even more enchanting. Qiu Zijuan delivered her sincere feelings through the soulful rendition of "ALL OF ME"; Wang Jue whispered the confession hidden in time with "Say I Love You When the Time Comes"; the impromptu Funk band had the entire audience swaying to the retro rhythm of "GET LUCKY"; Peng Xueqing's "Light" flowed into people's hearts like a warm current, bringing gentle strength. When Wang Tianyi sang "My Motherland and Me", the melodious tune was filled with love for the motherland—representatives of mainland students and international students all stood up to sing along, and the singing echoed by the South Lake. Finally, all the cast and crew jointly performed "The Initial Dream". Amidst the familiar melody, everyone waved glow sticks, embodying the original aspiration of youth and the faith in pursuing dreams in every line of the chorus.

On the stage, the agility of dances, the depth of vocal performances, and the passion of the band wove together a vivid portrait of youth shared by mainland students and international students. Off the stage, the sea of glow sticks, figures swaying gently to the rhythm, and waves of cheers turned this musical feast into a collective memory of cross-cultural friendship. From the song-guessing interaction to the musical resonance, every segment narrowed the distance between hearts, allowing students from diverse backgrounds to understand each other through melodies and forge bonds of multicultural connection amid communication.

Taking music as the carrier of cross-cultural communication, the "Unite for a Shared Dream · Enjoy the South Lake" Lawn Music Festival integrated diverse cultures into every melody and interaction. More than just a youthful musical gathering, it allowed mainland students and international students to feel the warmth of different cultures through songs, deepen friendships and enhance multicultural identity through communication. Thus, the seeds of uniting for a shared dream have quietly taken root amid the gentle breeze by the South Lake.