Teacher’s Day in China: A Loop of Respect

Sometimes, a flower can say what words cannot. A simple bouquet can carry gratitude, respect, affection, and memories that remain with us for years. For me, Teacher’s Day flowers in China represent a deeper journey.

From being a student who once stood before teachers with flowers in hand, I later became a teacher who now receives flowers from students and university leaders.

When I first came to China as an international student at Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, I was deeply impressed by the way Teacher’s Day was observed. On September 10, students presented flowers to their teachers as a gesture of respect and gratitude. I remember standing as a student, holding flowers for my teachers and wishing them a happy Teacher’s Day.

At that time, it seemed simply a special day to thank those who taught us. I did not imagine that one day I would experience the same tradition from the other side of the classroom.

Today, I am a teacher at Sanming University in Fujian Province. This year, when my students presented flowers to me and wished me a happy Teacher’s Day, I felt a very different emotion. The flowers were familiar, but their meaning was new. I remembered the days when I was a student at Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics and gave flowers to my teachers. I realized that teachers and students are linked not only by teaching and learning, but also by respect, trust, encouragement, and human connection.

What touched me even more was seeing the university’s highest administrative and policy-making leaders extending Teacher’s Day greetings to teachers. Their gesture sent a clear message that teachers matter and education matters.

Although Teacher’s Day is observed at different times across the globe, its core objective remains the same: to honour the contributions and responsibilities of teachers. UNESCO designated October 5 as World Teacher’s Day, a practice observed since 1994. However, many countries celebrate the occasion on different dates based on their own history and traditions. Teacher’s Day is celebrated on September 10 in China, September 5 in India, the Tuesday of the first full week of May in the United States, October 15 in Brazil, May 15 in Mexico, November 24 in Turkey, January 16 in Thailand, November 20 in Vietnam, and May 16 in Malaysia.

Celebrations vary by country and may include the presentation of flowers and gifts, cultural programs, award ceremonies, discussion forums, or tributes to former teachers. Despite these diverse forms of observance, a global culture of expressing gratitude toward teachers has emerged through these celebrations.

In China, Teacher’s Day is not limited to students sending greetings to their teachers. Universities and educational institutions also recognize teachers, highlight outstanding educators, and create an atmosphere of respect for the profession. This broader practice reinforces the value placed on those who stand in front of classrooms, guide students, and help shape their futures.

China officially established Teacher’s Day on September 10 in 1985. The decision was intended not only to celebrate teachers but also to raise their social status and promote a culture of respecting teachers, knowledge, and talent. The Teachers Law later formally established September 10 as Teacher’s Day.

This year, September 10, 2026, marks China’s 42nd Teacher’s Day, highlighting the vital role of educators in shaping minds and building the nation, and emphasizing the spirit of educators and a culture of respecting teachers and valuing education.

China has the world's largest education system, with roughly 440,000 schools at all levels and types and 280 million students. In 1985, China had about 9.32 million full-time teachers nationwide.

Four decades later, that number had doubled to nearly 18.7 million, even as qualifications climbed sharply, with most primary and secondary teachers now holding at least a bachelor's degree.

The history is important because it shows that Teacher’s Day in China is more than a ceremonial occasion. It is connected to a broader cultural tradition. Respect for teachers has deep roots in Chinese civilization, and the modern Teacher’s Day was created to strengthen that respect and encourage society to value knowledge and education.

From my experience, one of the most meaningful aspects of Teacher’s Day in Chinese universities is the involvement of institutional leadership. When university leaders visit teachers, offer flowers or greetings, recognize their work, and participate in celebrations, it gives the occasion special significance. Such gestures may appear small, but they can have a powerful effect on teachers’ sense of belonging and professional dignity. A teacher spends much of the year giving knowledge, time, patience, encouragement, and sometimes even emotional support.

A day when the institution and students say, “We appreciate you,” can be deeply meaningful.

For me, however, the most beautiful part of Teacher’s Day is the circle it creates. Years ago, I was the student carrying flowers. Today, I am the teacher receiving them. Tomorrow, my students may become professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, or teachers themselves.

Perhaps one day they will remember their university days and the teachers who encouraged them. Some may even stand in a classroom and receive flowers from their own students. In that moment, the meaning of Teacher’s Day will pass from one generation to another.

This experience has also changed the way I understand teaching. When I was a student, I mainly saw teachers as people who provided knowledge and guidance. Now, as a teacher, I understand the responsibility behind the profession much more clearly. A teacher is not simply delivering lectures or completing a syllabus. A teacher is helping young people develop confidence, curiosity, values, and the ability to face an uncertain future.

That is why the flowers I received this year at Sanming University meant so much to me. They reminded me of where I started, how far I have travelled, and the responsibility I now carry.

They also reminded me that education is ultimately about people. Behind every lesson is a teacher who cares, and behind every teacher is often a student who once inspired that teacher to keep learning.

Teacher’s Day in China therefore teaches me a lesson that goes beyond flowers. It shows how a society can turn gratitude into a culture and respect into an institutional value. For a foreign teacher like me, the experience is particularly meaningful because I have lived on both sides of this tradition as a student giving flowers and as a teacher receiving them.

The flowers I once gave to my teachers have now, beautifully, come back to me. They are no longer simply flowers. They are a reminder that education creates a continuing circle of respect.

Students learn from teachers, teachers learn from students, and each generation carries that respect forward. That is the true meaning of Teacher’s Day: to remind us throughout the year why teaching, learning, and respecting those who make both possible matters.

The writer is a senior lecturer and researcher in the School of Overseas Education (School of Foreign Languages) at Sanming University in East China’s Fujian Province.