On 21 December 2025, the inaugural Malaysia National Intra-Varsity Festive Drums Open Competition (Gu Ju Da Zhuan), hosted by Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, was held in Melaka. The 24 Festive Drums Team of Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) received the Gold Award, as well as the Best Drumming Skills Award and Best Composition Award.

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The 24 Festive Drums is a percussion art form that combines the Chinese 24 solar terms, calligraphy aesthetics and traditional lion drum elements. Originating in Malaysia in the 1980s, it reflects the local Chinese community's creative efforts to preserve and reinterpret Chinese cultural heritage. The competition aimed to promote cultural transmission and intervarsity exchange among Malaysian youth.

XMUM was represented by 14 team members performing an original composition titled "Ripples of Life", inspired by the diverse forms of water. Through coordinated movements and dynamic drum rhythms, the piece conveyed themes of continuity, resilience and balance. Notably, the work was composed by team captain Beh Yi Hao, a first-year undergraduate student from the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Founded in 2016, the XMUM 24 Festive Drums Team has continued to grow through training, competitions and performances, contributing to campus cultural life and Malaysia–China cultural exchange.