On Oct 14 (Brazil time), a cultural event blending elements from China's National Day, the Mid-Autumn Festival, Confucius's birthday, Heze peonies and giant pandas was held at the Confucius Institute at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil, attracting nearly 300 local teachers and students to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

A short film about Heze peonies, with Portuguese subtitles, opened the event, introducing the cultural origins and auspicious meanings of the "king of flowers" to Brazilian audiences.

Presentations on Confucian thought, Mid-Autumn reunion and national celebrations followed, resonating with the peony's symbolism of prosperity, harmony and beauty.

Performances brought the atmosphere to a climax, including an interactive panda mascot, Dai ethnic dance, Chinese ribbon dragon and Qiang ethnic dance.

Outside the auditorium, five experience zones — peony flower creation, Chinese lacquer art, ping-pong ball relay, pitch-pot and cuju, the ancient predecessor of soccer, drew crowds. Participants collected stamps for the chance to enter a lucky draw.

The peony creation zone was the most popular. Brazilian students painted, cut and folded petals to assemble a large collective peony artwork, a vivid symbol of China-Brazil cultural fusion.

The event also launched a youth painting initiative, inviting Brazilian teenagers to create peony-themed works as an overseas extension of a broader peony-related youth project.

Brazilian students assemble a collective peony artwork during a cultural event at the Confucius Institute at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil on Oct 14. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]