The Cultural Tapestry of Lunar New Year on Beijing Campuses

As the Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié), unfolded in late January and early February 2026, Beijing's prestigious universities transformed into vibrant hubs of celebration. Taiwanese students, part of a growing cohort pursuing higher education across the Taiwan Strait, found themselves immersed in age-old traditions that foster unity and cultural exchange. This festival, marking the most important holiday in the Chinese lunar calendar, emphasizes family reunions, renewal, and prosperity, providing a unique lens through which cross-strait academic ties are strengthening.

Beijing, home to world-renowned institutions like Peking University (PKU, 北京大学) and Tsinghua University (清华大学), hosts thousands of international students, including a notable number from Taiwan. These students not only engage in rigorous academic pursuits but also actively participate in festive activities that bridge cultural gaps. From garden parties to temple fairs, the experiences shared by these students highlight the expanding cross-strait academic exchanges, despite geopolitical complexities.

Rising Tide of Taiwanese Enrollment in Mainland China Universities

Cross-strait academic mobility has seen steady growth, with approximately 12,000 Taiwanese students enrolled in mainland Chinese universities as of 2026, according to recent estimates from the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO). While comprehensive Beijing-specific figures are not publicly broken down annually, top institutions like PKU and Tsinghua attract a significant share due to their global rankings and specialized programs in fields such as engineering, sciences, and humanities.

This influx reflects deliberate policies promoting educational cooperation. Programs like the Mainland's Postgraduate Entrance Examination for Taiwanese Students facilitate access, with new examination centers added in 2026, such as Fuzhou. Universities offer scholarships, cultural orientation, and support services tailored for cross-strait students, encouraging long-term engagement.

• Historical growth: From a few hundred in the early 2000s to over 12,000 today.
• Popular fields: STEM disciplines, business, and Chinese studies.
• Policy support: TAO initiatives welcoming 2026 cohorts explicitly.

Such numbers underscore the appeal of Beijing's higher education ecosystem, where students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and proximity to innovation hubs.

Peking University: Heartfelt Reunions and Gala Traditions

At Peking University, one of China's oldest and most elite institutions founded in 1898, Taiwanese students have long embraced Spring Festival customs. Drawing from past celebrations, such as those in 2024 detailed in university news, students like Lin Yenchen recount the joy of watching the CCTV Spring Festival Gala—a four-hour televised extravaganza featuring music, comedy, and cultural performances—with newfound friends on campus.PKU News

In 2026, similar gatherings likely included reunion dinners featuring Fujianese specialties like oyster omelet (蚵仔煎) and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (佛跳墙, fó tiào qiáng), a luxurious soup symbolizing abundance. Lin Kuanting, a previous participant, emphasized the emotional resonance of these meals, evoking family ties across the strait. Liu Yufu expressed hopes for deeper integration, aspiring for higher-quality development in cross-strait relations.

PKU's International Culture Festival and holiday events provide platforms for Taiwanese students to share Taiwanese New Year customs, such as pineapple cakes (凤梨酥), fostering mutual understanding.

Tsinghua University: Innovation Meets Festive Spirit

Tsinghua University, often dubbed China's MIT for its engineering prowess, buzzed with activity during the 2026 Lunar New Year. International students, including Taiwanese, participated in multilingual New Year greetings at the Beijing Spring Festival Concert and campus galas. Videos from Tsinghua showcased students sending heartfelt wishes in various languages, highlighting diversity.Tsinghua Official

Activities ranged from talent shows with Tai Chi performances to crafting Spring Festival couplets (春联), red paper inscriptions warding off evil and inviting good fortune. Taiwanese students contributed by organizing cultural exchanges, blending elements like Taiwanese temple fairs with mainland dragon dances.

The university's Office of Multicultural Learning supports such initiatives, ensuring students feel at home far from Taiwan.

Beyond the Ivies: Celebrations at Beijing Jiaotong and Others

Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) hosted a lively Spring Festival garden party on February 10, 2026, for international students, featuring traditional snacks, games, and New Year wishes. Students visited the Changdian Temple Fair, immersing in woodblock printing and folk crafts.

Institutions like Beijing Normal University (BNU) and Beijing International Studies University (BISU) organized couplet-writing sessions and galas on Chinese New Year's Eve (February 16). These events, open to all, allowed Taiwanese students to experience authentic Beijing flavors, from dumplings (饺子) symbolizing wealth to lantern displays illuminating the Year of the Horse.

Photo by Marcus Dall Col on Unsplash

• BJTU: Garden party with festive performances.
• BISU: Couplet writing for New Year's Eve.
• General trend: Over 60 intl students from 35 countries at central events.

Personal Narratives: Finding 'Home' Across the Strait

Taiwanese students often describe a profound sense of belonging during these celebrations. Echoing Lin Peiying's words, 'reunion means returning to a place of security and peace,' many view Beijing campuses as extended family. One student shared virtually staying for campus dinners, enjoying hotpot and fireworks, while missing Taiwan's niú ròu miàn (beef noodle soup) but appreciating new bonds.

These experiences counteract homesickness, with peers from mainland China hosting 'strait-forward' meals mixing cuisines. Such interactions build lifelong networks, essential for future collaborations in academia and industry.

Key Cultural Immersion Activities Bridging Divides

Spring Festival activities are meticulously designed for immersion:

1. Temple Fairs (庙会): Vibrant markets with street food, acrobatics, and crafts.
2. Writing Fu (福): The character for 'fortune,' pasted upside down for 'fortune arrives.'
3. Gala Viewing Parties: Communal watches of the national broadcast.
4. Family Dinners: Symbolizing harmony, often with symbolic foods like fish (年年有余, surplus every year).

These step-by-step traditions educate on lunar calendar customs, enhancing cultural literacy.

Navigating Challenges in Cross-Strait Academic Mobility

Despite positives, challenges persist: visa restrictions, political sensitivities, and family concerns. Taiwan's 2025 bans on certain exchanges contrast mainland welcomes. Solutions include university counseling, online family connections, and hybrid events.

Stakeholders advocate balanced views: universities emphasize academic freedom, while students highlight personal growth. Statistics show retention rates improving with support.

Government and Institutional Drivers of Expansion

The TAO and Ministry of Education promote exchanges via scholarships and forums, like the 2026 CPC-KMT Think Tanks Forum in Beijing. Universities integrate cross-strait programs, with over 1,000 youth crossings early 2026.

Future outlook: Potential for joint research in AI, green tech, aligning with China's 14th Five-Year Plan.

Career Horizons and Professional Networks

These exchanges yield tangible benefits: alumni networks spanning the strait, internships at tech giants like Huawei, and pathways to faculty positions. For aspiring academics, experience in Beijing unis boosts resumes globally.

Check higher-ed-jobs or university-jobs for openings, and higher-ed-career-advice for tips on cross-strait careers.

Photo by Albert Canite on Unsplash

Looking Ahead: A Bright Future for Exchanges

As cross-strait academic ties deepen, Lunar New Year experiences symbolize enduring people-to-people bonds. With initiatives like university townships and AI collaborations, expect sustained growth. Students returning to Taiwan or staying contribute to mutual prosperity.

Visit rate-my-professor, higher-ed-jobs, and higher-ed-career-advice to leverage these insights for your academic journey.