Some 300 international students gathered for a gala in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Friday night, to showcase Chinese culture through a variety of performances.

Coming from 14 universities in Zhejiang, including Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, and Zhejiang Normal University, they presented their experiences and life stories in China through dances, songs, dramas and other artforms, integrating the Chinese language and various elements of Chinese culture and modern development, such as the tea culture and cutting-edge digital technologies.

The gala was part of an annual series of cultural exchange events that seek to offer international students in Zhejiang more opportunities to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and further foster mutual understanding between China and the world.

Now in its 16th edition, the annual series has attracted more than 10,000 international students to participate over the past 16 years.

Awards were given to international students who took part in a short video contest to capture their lives in Zhejiang province.

According to the Zhejiang Department of Education, more than 20,000 international students from 176 countries and regions are currently studying in the province.

Find out more about the gala in the video.