During the 2026 Lantern Festival, the third "Where Lychees Grow, Talents Rise" Lantern Festival Fair opened at Liyuan on the campus of Shenzhen University. Despite steady drizzle, tens of thousands of faculty members, students, alumni, and local residents gathered to take part in the celebration. As a signature cultural event of Shenzhen University, this year's fair deeply integrated traditional intangible cultural heritage, cutting-edge technology, and academic achievements, showcasing Shenzhen University as an international university closely integrated with the city.
The theme of this year's fair, "Where Lychees Grow, Talents Rise," carries rich symbolic meaning: "Lychees" derive from the university's iconic lychee culture, while "Talents Rise" symbolizes the new accomplishments expected from Shenzhen University faculty and students in talent cultivation and research service in the coming year. At the opening ceremony, hundreds of helium-filled Kongming lanterns rose into the sky as representatives from both the university and the local government jointly expressed their shared vision of collaborative development.
The fair featured four themed zones and 70 booths, turning teaching and research achievements into immersive experiences.
International students from the College of International Exchange presented cuisines from their home countries, while ethnic costume experiences—including those of the Tatar and other minority groups—attracted large crowds. At the booth of the School of Medicine, activities such as herbal sachet making and traditional Chinese herbal tasting turned course content from Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine into accessible public health education, allowing visitors to experience the charm of medical science firsthand. The Pingshan Qilin Dance and roaming "cultural NPCs" engaging visitors in poetry matching games created a lively blend of classical elegance and modern creativity.
In the Innovation and Technology Interaction Zone, Shenzhen University showcased a number of independently developed cutting-edge technologies, which stole the spotlight at the fair. The College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering exhibited high-tech products including a quadruped bionic robot, a flying go-kart, and smart sports glasses. The College of Artificial Intelligence demonstrated AI-powered rock-paper-scissors and interactive games developed by faculty and students, highlighting the limitless possibilities of AI applications. Award-winning RoboMaster team robots from the College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering also made an appearance, reflecting the university's top-tier strength in engineering education.
The fair served not only as a cultural celebration, but also as a platform for the university to engage with society. Alumni representatives, including members of the Class of 1993 intake, returned to campus to exhibit innovative achievements in materials, home products, and other fields, strengthening alumni connections. Special booths were set up to support rural revitalization by promoting agricultural products from paired assistance regions. In addition, relevant government authorities of Nanshan District and the Shenzhen University Community took an active and hands-on role, achieving a two-way integration of university resources and community governance.
From the innovative exhibits of the Affiliated Education Group of Shenzhen University to "Luban Bridge" challenge organized by the School of Civil Engineering, the fair highlighted Shenzhen University's academic strength and open, collaborative spirit. The event was not only a celebration, but also a multifaceted practical initiative, aimed at advancing professional awareness, enhancing international competence, and fostering coordinated social development.
