Culture
Culture at SUST
With 5,000 years of history, China enjoys a splendid culture, which trickles into Shaanxi , Xi'an and SUST. Located in northern Xi'an , an ancient Chinese capital in Shaanxi province, SUST is a key national university that is increasing its influence due to its close connections with Chinese, Shaanxi and Xi'an culture.
Below, readers can learn more about these connections with some relevant examples.
Chinese Culture
Shaanxi Culture
Xi'an Culture
Chinese culture 
China 's long history includes important festivals and classical arts. Even though SUST has only been around for 50 years, festivals such as Spring Festival, Lantern Festival and Mid-autumn Festival as well as classical arts such as calligraphy, martial arts and chinese chess contribute to students' and teachers' lifestyles at SUST.
Festivals 
In China , the entire nation may celebrate many Chinese traditional festivals throughout the year. The SUST community is no exception. They hold various activities every year to celebrate distinct Chinese festivals.
Spring Festival
The Chinese New Year , known as Spring Festival, is similar to Christmas in the West. The Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month (usually in January or February). It is a national carnival to welcome the spring season and to celebrate the past year's harvest with good food, festivities, dragon dancing and firecrackers.
SUST students commonly have dinner together with roommates or their entire class
SUST students set off fireworks on the playground and paste Spring Festival couplets on their dormitory doors
Lantern Festival
Yuanxiao is another name for the Chinese Lantern Festival. The celebration falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month (a couple weeks after Spring Festival), which correlates with the first full moon of the new year. The day's most important activity is lantern-watching , and many Chinese will eat rice dumplings (also called yuanxiao).
The most popular activity in SUST on this day is Guessing lantern riddles
Most SUST students go downtown to watch lanterns along the City Wall
Mid-Autumn Festival
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the 15th day of the 8th month is the exact middle of autumn, hence the holiday's name. Families gather together for an evening celebration to light lanterns, eat moon cakes and appreciate the full moon.
On the night of August 15 (lunar calendar) the moon appears to be at its fullest and brightest and SUST students may go to the campus lake to appreciate the night sky. Here, SUST students chat and eat moon cakes and fruit as they enjoy the enchanting night.
Classical arts
Chinese Classical arts include many aspects, for example, the Chinese literati including Shu (calligraphy), Hua (painting), Qin (a stringed musical instrument), and Qi (a strategic board game). SUST students have established a variety of associations and clubs connected to Chinese classical arts, among which the Calligraphy Association, the Martial arts Association and the Chinese Chess Association play leading roles.
Calligraphy 
Regarded as the most abstract and sublime form of art in Chinese culture, "Shu Fa" (calligraphy) is often thought to be an art unique to Asian cultures. In contrast to Western calligraphy, diffusing ink blots and dry brush strokes are viewed as a natural impromptu expression rather than a fault. If students are interested in calligraphy, the SUST Calligraphy Association is available to guide them.
At regular meetings, calligraphy instructors teach students how to write Chinese characters with special brushes and paper
Every semester the Association invites well-known calligraphers to deliver speeches and exhibit their work
Martial Arts
The Chinese martial arts, sometimes referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term ＾Wushu,￣ and popularly as ＾kung fu,￣ consist of a several fighting styles that have developed over the centuries. If students have a passion for martial arts or want to get in shape, the SUST Martial Arts Association is a good choice.
Coaches cover several different varieties of martial arts including Taichi, Kungfu and Qigong
Association members plan and perform an exhibition of their skills each year on campus
Chinese Chess 
The Chinese chess culture is a legacy in traditional Chinese arts. Together with playing musical instruments, reading, and painting, playing chess was considered an essential skill for ancient Chinese literati. The SUST Chinese Chess Association is a place that students can meet and learn from chess masters as they improve their abilities.
The Association is predominantly made up of male students who practice against each other
Each year, the Association holds a campus-wide competition that encourages non-members to participate and show-off their skills
Shaanxi Culture
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As the ＾cradle of Chinese civilization￣, Shaanxi has witnessed the emergence and development of Chinese culture and once served as the cultural center of the nation. Since its move to Shaanxi in 1970, SUST has had a unique relationship with Shaanxi 's culture, especially with its people, arts, literature and tourism.
The Characteristics of Shaanxi Citizens
Located in central China , Shaanxi province has a diverse climate ranging from Yulin in the north to Ankang in the south. But no matter what the climate and living conditions, Shaanxi people all share honesty and frankness.
Shaanxi people always have very positive attitudes , which is also the typical Shaanxi culture spirit
The unique social customs and habits of Shaanxi people are highlighted in the Ten Strange Wonders of Shaanxi
1. Noodles as wide as belts
2. Pancakes as big as a pan cover
3. Green peppers as delicious as a dish
4. Bowls as big as basins
5. Operas sung as high as roars
6. Handkerchief headdresses
7. Paomo sells in big bowls
8. Houses built in halves
9. Girls marry locally
10. People squat on stools
As for the students at SUST, more than 60 percent of them are from Shaanxi and they have grown up in Shaanxi 's unique culture
Arts
The locals' positive attitude promotes the birth of Shaanxi 's distinct arts, which have a strong local characteristics and are radiant with joy and vitality .
Paper-cutting's use of red color symbolizes Shaanxi peoples' pursuit of happiness and is popular among SUST students whose work is commonly exhibited in the Art Gallery on campus
Shaanxi Opera is the characteristic music of native Shaanxi people, which conveys deep feeling in its masculine, stirring and sentimental forms
Literature
Shaanxi has a very profound literary and artistic heritage. Here are a few pieces of literature that SUST students have read as part of their Chinese education:
The Book of Songs is edited by Confucius, documenting the beginning of China 's 3,000-year literary history
The Chinese Bible Analects is the basic text in Chinese education which represents Confucian thoughts
The Historical Records is China 's classic biographical collection of Chinese historians
Tourism
Shaanxi has an abundance of world-famous cultural relics ！ among Chinese people, the province is commonly referred to as a charming woman who is endowed with both beauty and talent in reference to its many attractions.
In this magic land, Shaanxi has a rich variety of ancient temples and tombs .
The Famen Temple ( 115km northwest of Xi'an )
Qianling Mausoleum in Qianxian county (west of Xi'an )
Maoling Mausoleum in Xingping County (west of Xi'an )
Shaanxi is also boasts beautiful natural landscapes .
Hua Mountain (eastern Shaanxi ) is one of the five sacred mountains in China
Hukou Waterfall in Yanan (northern Shaanxi ) where the revolutionary base of new China is also located
Taibai Mountain is a beautiful place to hike in southwestern Shaanxi
Shaanxi is rich with accumulated treasures from the ages; every ruin tells the history of times gone by, and every stone is a chronicle. During their free time and holidays, students often use their student discounts to visit different scenic spots and relics around Shaanxi .
Shaanxi has honest people, profound cultural art, literary heritage, and rich tourist resources. The Chinese characters 廉芦 ( Xi ' an : Shaanxi ' s historical capital city) literally mean ＾ western peace, ￣ further emphasizing Shaanxi as a peaceful place to live.
Xi'an Culture BACK TO TOP
Shaanxi 's capital city, Xi'an , is located in central Shaanxi on the Guanzhong Plain and has a population of 6.62 million. It stood as the capital for thirteen dynasties and was the cradle of Yangshao civilization ！ it has been called the birthplace of Asian civilization. Today, Xi'an 's profound culture and advancing economy make it an educational hub for university development, hence SUST's move to the city in 2005.
Tourism
Xi'an possesses a variety of historical relics, natural landmarks and other tourist attractions that attract tourists from all over the world and also enrich SUST students' lives.
Historical Relics
Xi'an 's abundance of ancient antiquities is, in part, due to the city's political prominence throughout Chinese history.
The Terracotta Warriors are located just east of Xi'an city; thousands of terracotta statues built in Qin dynasty are regarded as the ＾Eighth Wonder of the World￣ and are also Xi'an 's most famous site
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is situated in the south of Xi'an and preserves important Buddhist literature brought by a famous monk Xuanzang upon his return from India
The Muslim Quarter is possibly the most distinctive neighborhood in Xi'an where you can buy local products and taste delicious regional and Muslim snacks
The Great Mosque is located in the Muslim Quarter and is listed as one of Xi'an 's ＾Ten Greatest Attractions￣
Natural Landmarks
Aside from having so many historical relics, Xi'an 's beautiful scenery spots are also must-sees.
Cuihua Mountain 's beautiful views in the south of Xi'an make it an ideal place for Xi'an citizens to spend their weekend and relax
Li Mountain is an excellent combination of nature and culture and only a forty-minute bus ride from the Xi'an Railway Station
Architecture
Visitors can immerse themselves further in Xi'an 's marvelous history with a look at the local architecture. In addition to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque, the Bell Tower and Ancient City Wall also represent striking ancient architecture that preserve a vivid picture of this ancient capital city.
The Bell Tower and the Drum Tower are both located in the center of downtown Xi'an ！ in ancient times, their main function was keeping accurate time for residents
The Ancient City Wall displays the most important defense for the city in ancient China
Influenced by Xi'an 's ancient architecture, the SUST campus is also full of historical character.
The School Gate is built in the shape of an ancient key , which symbolizes ＾opening the gate of knowledge￣
The Library's architecture expresses the Chinese concept of harmony with its combination of circular and square elements, which connect with the well-known Yin and Yang philosophy
Visit the Campus Tour page for more of SUST's facilities and architecture.
Food & Snacks
When talking about Xi'an , its food cannot be avoided. Xi'an food is characterized by varieties of hot and strong flavor. Here are a few examples:
Yangrou Paomo (Soaked Flat Bread in Mutton Soup) is a common dish in Xi'an and is easily found in the Muslim Quarter at one of its many restaurants
Liangpi (Cold rice noodles) and Roujiamo (the Chinese hamburger) are often eaten together and are popular among both locals and tourists
The SUST cafeterias offer many typical Xi'an foods, and the food markets near campus also provide even more local options for the SUST community.