Under a bright September sky, the lawns by Guanghua Tower and East Quad buzzed with life on the 22nd. More than 150 student societies came together for Fudan University’s 2026 Student Societies Festival—a semesterly tradition. At the entrance, students received stickers to place on the signs of clubs they found most impressive, turning the festival into a lively, friendly competition.
Despite the heat, the air was thick with excitement. “The sun is relentless,” one student laughed, “but our passion burns even brighter.” For many, it was a day when old hobbies found their way back, new interests took root, and strangers gradually became friends.
Where Old Passions Continue
For many students, the festival was a chance to pick up where they left off.
Matilda from Canada stopped by the Soccer Club, where a crowd had gathered around a shooting challenge. Some students fired powerful, precise shots, while others stepped up for their first brave try—yet every attempt, no matter the result, drew cheers from the crowd. “I started playing soccer when I was 6 years old and I played it until I was 17,” she said. Because her high school had no soccer club, she had to give it up for four years. Now, at Fudan, she is ready to return. “If they have a mixed or women’s team, I wanna join.” She walked away with a grin, already planning her first practice.
Matilda is taking a shot
At the French Club, Patricia from France caught the warm familiarity of her mother tongue—a surprise that felt like home—while others leaned in with curious attempts at a new language. “I help with French, and they help me with Chinese—a lovely exchange,” she said. For her, every conversation was a small bridge between two worlds.
When Sen from Russia spotted the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club, he was instantly excited. On the grass, members demonstrated basic moves—a tight hold, a swift escape—with smooth, practiced control. “I’ve trained BJJ for two years, and finding it here feels both familiar and new,” he said, watching the demonstration of holds and escapes with quiet focus.
For them, old passions were not left behind. They simply found a new place to grow.
Where New Passions Begin
Others arrived without expectations and left with new curiosities.
Chris from Poland and Vincent from Germany wandered over to the Dragon Boat Association, where members demonstrated the basic paddling stance—how to sit, how to grip the paddle, how to pull through the water—and shared stories from past races across the country. “We didn’t expect this, but now we want to try,” Chris said. “They travel around China for competitions—that’s exciting.” Vincent was already asking about training schedules and beginner sessions. After a detailed back-and-forth about practice times and commitments, both decided to join on the spot.
Chris from Poland and Vincent from Germany
Nearby, Sam from the UK was drawn to booths celebrating the beauty of Jiangnan. At the Wu Dialect Club, he listened as a student recited a poem in the soft, flowing tones of the Wu dialect—gentle as water, tender as a spring breeze. At the Kun Opera Club, a performer in elegant costume sang a passage from a classical Kun Opera piece, her voice rising and falling with a plaintive beauty that seemed to carry centuries of longing. “It’s like listening to a painting.” Sam said. He left with a more concrete appreciation of the charm of Jiangnan.
Sam standing at the Wu Dialect Club booth
At the Skateboarding Association, a wooden log topped with a skateboard deck served as a balance challenge—and a magnet for curious crowds. The longer you stayed upright, the bigger the prize. Tommy stepped up, planted his feet, and found his center almost instantly. The board wobbled once, then went still. Seconds passed, then a few more; the crowd leaned in, watching him hold steady far longer than most. “I snowboard—balance comes naturally,” he said. It was a small discovery, but a satisfying one—a new skill built on an old one.
Jimmy attempting the balance challenge
For Junjie, a Kazakhstani student who goes by his Chinese name, the festival had something else in store—something far more unexpected. In front of the booth of Fudan Frisbee Club, he stepped up to the vertical jump test, leaped, and touched the frisbee set at 2.5 meters, drawing gasps from the crowd. Among the onlookers, a club member stared, stunned, then sprinted off to find his club leader. Before Junjie knew it, an offer was on the table. One moment he was testing his limits; the next, he was being recruited.
Junjie stunning the crowd
A sports club extends an offer to Junjie
Here, discovery felt like an open door. Behind it lay not just a club, but a new way of experiencing university—a chance to try what you never expected before, to become someone you never imagined you could be.
Where Booths Invite You In
The festival’s energy came not only from the clubs, but from the ways they welcomed students in.
At the Magic Club booth, reality seemed to bend for a moment. Xixing from New Zealand was invited to pick a card, memorize it, and hold it close—hidden from every eye. The magician leaned in, asking a few playful questions, his voice low and teasing. Xixing hesitated. The crowd held its breath. With a flick of his wrist and a dramatic flourish, he named the exact card in her hand. “It really pulls you in,” she said. “A clever way to spark engagement.”
The magician performing close-up magic for Xixing
Even more spectacular performances unfolded on the main stage set up on the lawn by Guanghua Tower. The Red Pomegranate Society performed a Tajik dance. Dancers in richly embroidered Tajik costumes and bright headpieces spun to a mysterious, joyful rhythm, their sleeves and skirts flowing like ribbons, drawing waves of applause. Kuralai from Mongolia watched, captivated. “I’m thrilled to see a club for China’s ethnic minorities—their cultures are fascinating,” she said. On the same stage, a lion dance erupted in a thunder of drums and a burst of colors; a beatboxer filled the air with rhythm; and a comedy duo had the crowd roaring with laughter at a hilarious xiangsheng routine.
Tajik dance
But not every booth relied on tricks or performances. Some simply opened a door and said, “Come try.” A horizontal bar competition invited students to step up and test their strength, and the line kept growing. Yuri from Armenia, who had trained as a child, stepped forward with quiet confidence. He gripped the bar, pulled himself up in one smooth motion, and kept going—nearly 17 pull-ups in one go. His body moved with power and ease, and the crowd erupted in cheers. For Yuri, the bar carried him back to childhood training days—and left him liking the club all the more.
Yuri doing pull-ups
Of course, explaining is the most basic way to draw in new members—but warmth and patience are anything but ordinary. Curious about martial arts, Oscar approached a club booth. The club leader patiently explained how training worked and what beginners could expect. As they talked, Oscar’s questions grew, and so did his sense of being welcomed. By the end, he had not only learned how the club operated, but felt a growing sense of belonging.
Oscar asking about club information
Each booth did more than inform; it extended an invitation—not merely to sign up, but to belong.
Where Friends Come from Everywhere
For many, the festival revealed Fudan as a place where people from around the world meet—friendships here cross languages, cultures and time zones, often sparked by a shared passion.
Cliff from the US put it simply. “It’s amazing—my friends are from everywhere, and they’re all here.” As he spoke, he waved his friends over to say hello to our reporter, with an easy, genuine warmth.
Cliff (1st from the left) and his friends
Kuralai (1st from the left) , Sen (2nd from the left) and their friends
Patricia (3rd from the left) and her friends
At Fudan, every student society is where excellence meets delight. Students come with curiosity, and leave with skills, friends, and stories they never saw coming. As one student put it, “You can never get enough of this festival.” The festival ends, but the spirit carries on—uniting Fudaners’ passion and setting them off on a new journey together.
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Writer:WU Lili
Proofreader: WANG Yiyao
Editor: LI Yijie
