On Monday 30th January 2023, the Lancaster University Confucius Institute team hosted a Lunar New Year celebration event in The Roundhouse for around 150 staff and students on campus.

The day began with an introductory speech from Jinghan Zeng, Director of Lancaster University Confucius Institute followed by a welcome speech from Andy Schofield, Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University.

We then welcomed students Lizzie Coopland and Chenxi Wan to the stage to talk about their experience of the Lancaster Chinese Friendship Programme, which launched this academic year. The students then showed the video that they had created of their experience, and they were presented with the Best Video Award by Vice-Chancellor Andy Schofield.

The Vice-Chancellor also presented an award to Troy Liqi Ye for getting third prize in South China University of Technology’s video competition, which is the Lancaster University Confucius Institute’s partner university. The final award went to Cameron Patterson as a Reward of Recognition by South China University of Technology for his contribution to the video created by Troy Liqi Ye and Vera Dongyi Ren.

Cameron Patterson, Lancaster University Confucius Institute’s student ambassador, was 2015 European Champion and Global Runner-Up of 'Chinese Bridge' for Foreign College Students. These wins have led to opportunities including presenting galas, appearances in Chinese media and performing a poem for President Xi Jinping during the state visit in 2015. During the Lunar New Year event Cameron recited the poem, written by President Xi Jingping, that he recited in 2015.

Lancaster University Confucius Institute teacher, Leo Zhenglang Chen (pictured right) performed a Chinese fan dance and the staff and student Twelve Strings ensemble of guitar, flute, erhu and pipa from Lancaster University played New Year songs. You can find watch their performance via the link below:

春节序曲 Spring Festival Performance at Lancaster University Confucius Institute - YouTube

Following the performances were a variety of Chinese arts and crafts activities including Chinese calligraphy, lantern-making and paper cutting. The staff and students also got to taste some Chinese food.

On Saturday 21st January 2023, one of Lancaster University Confucius Institute's teaching sites, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle, hosted entertainment to celebrate Chinese New Year’s eve with a lion dance by Northern Dragons and arts and crafts activities.