Winter Solstice (Chinese: 冬至), the 22nd solar term of the year begins this year on Dec 21. In order to spread and embrace traditional Chinese culture, giving the students a sense of home and letting them enjoy the happiness of cooperation and work, the Student Union of CUEB, together with the Logistics and Catering Center, held a dumpling-making activity in the second dining hall on Dec 21. Student representatives from different schools and grades attended it.

The Student Union surveyed Winter Solstice customs and their favorite flavors of dumpling through an online public platform and offline questionnaires. These results would be given as feedback to the canteen as references for preparation

At the same time, some representatives would be selected to participate in the offline dumpling-making activity according to the students' wishes about the Winter Solstice. They were freshmen who were far away home for the first time, and students who were preparing for their graduate entrance examination. CUEB tried to let more students feel the warmth of the winter campus through this activity.

The students were divided into three groups to make the top three flavors of dumplings as ranked in the survey. After disinfection and washing hands, the cooks of the school cafeteria demonstrated the steps for making dumplings in detail, including kneading dough, rolling skins and wrapping the stuffing with skins. The students all listened and watched carefully. After that the students started to make dumplings by themselves, helping one other, exchanging skills and tips on how to make dumplings, and some of them even created new ways to make dumplings. Finally, each group took a photo with their neatly-placed dumplings and enjoy the steaming hot dumplings.

Xiong Yangting, an undergraduate student in the School of Public Finance and Taxation Grade of 2021, said: “Starting from rolling the dumpling skins, everyone exchanged opinions on Winter Solstice customs and their unique dumpling styles, and made dumplings in different shapes and sizes, which was both interesting and meaningful. People will always miss their families on festival occasions. Although I was far away from home, I really feel the happiness of work and the warmth of our school by making dumplings with students on this special day.” Gao Yu, a graduate student in the School of Accounting Grade of 2020, said: “On the first day of Winter Solstice, we experience the shortest day and longest night in this year. We really want to show our sincere appreciation to the Student Union for bringing us a warm Winter Solstice before entering the coldest season in this year. We all feel happy and gain a lot in this meaningful and joyful activity.”