On April 8th, the University Student Mental Health Education Center organized 27 international students from countries such as Laos, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Tajikistan to jointly embark on a Hanfu cultural experience and photography activity on campus in the springtime, alongside members of the university's Hanfu Society. At the beginning of the event, members of the Hanfu Society assisted the international students in dressing in Hanfu. "The texture of this garment feels similar to our Lao sarong!" exclaimed Lao student Lily as she draped a light golden shawl around her arms. The psychology teacher promptly noticed this detail—by evoking the tactile memories of the students' native attire, a sense of cultural identity and security was successfully activated. After the makeup and styling were completed, students from five different countries gathered at the Candlelight Pavilion in their Hanfu attire to capture the beauty of spring. Breaking through language barriers, the students from various countries communicated, invited each other to join in, and took photos together. At the end of the event, each student carefully selected the most beautiful photo from their phone and sent it to their family or friends, with a message: "I'm doing well here in China." This Hanfu photography experience promoted the mental health of Chinese and international students through three pathways: cultural tactile awakening of a sense of security, collaborative behavior reducing defensiveness, and interpersonal communication rebuilding a sense of belonging. This event utilized Hanfu as a cultural symbol to help international students gain a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture, promote cultural exchange between China and foreign countries, allow international students to convey a positive life status of "I'm doing well here in China" to their loved ones abroad, and enhance their sense of belonging and mental well-being.
