The Office of International Affairs at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) held the “2026 My Moon, My Art!” Mid-Autumn Festival creative moon-lamp painting event on campus on September 21. The event brought together around 70 Taiwanese and international students, giving them an opportunity to learn about Taiwan’s Mid-Autumn Festival traditions and create their own hand-painted moon lamps.
The event was opened by Kun-Yu Liu, Dean of International Affairs, who introduced the activities and encouraged students to make friends from different countries through the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, which are associated with family reunion and togetherness.
For the first part of the event, international students were introduced to the traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan. From moon-gazing and mooncakes to pomelos and barbecues, the students explored local customs and gained a better understanding of everyday life and culture in Taiwan.
The students then picked up their brushes to take part in a moon-lamp painting activity. Free to create their own designs on the round moon lamps, some painted the Jade Rabbit and the moon, others depicted starry skies, while some incorporated cultural elements from their own hometowns and countries. The hand-painted moon lamps were arranged at the front of the classroom, creating a colorful and imaginative “sea of moon lamps.”
The event concluded with a popular choice award, allowing participants to vote for their favorite creations. Through the experience of “painting together, chatting together, and voting together,” the Taiwanese and international students naturally interacted with one another, bringing cultural exchange beyond the classroom and into everyday campus life.
Internationalization is not simply about enabling students to go abroad; it is also about creating opportunities for students from different countries to meet and get to know one another on campus. Through a diverse range of cultural activities, NPUST hopes to help international students experience the warmth and hospitality of Taiwan while giving Taiwanese students opportunities to discover and engage with the wider world.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the Office of International Affairs at NPUST brought students together to use their hand-painted moon lamps to light up the campus and illuminate a wonderful moment of cross-cultural exchange. The university extends its best wishes to all NPUST faculty, staff, and students: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
