During the Chinese Lunar New Year in 2023, the Confucius Institute (CI) of the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) and De Montfort University (DMU) organized a series of 16 cultural events in DMU, Leicester City and local primary and secondary schools, inviting students and teachers from DMU, primary and secondary schools; local people, and friends from all walks of life to showcase and experience a variety of activities and enjoy a Chinese cultural feast. The series of events received strong support from USTB, DMU, Leicester City Council and other partners, and were praised by the leadership from USTB and DMU. It was widely tweeted and retweeted by the mass media and local self-publishers, reaching a total audience of over 21,000 people.

Online and offline celebration between USTB and DMU

On January 16^th, the Confucius Institute, together with the leaders of the USTB and DMU, held an online and offline combined Chinese New Year celebration for the Year of the Rabbit. DMU President Katie Normington, Vice President Simon Bradbury, Prof. YANG Renshu, President of UST, and Prof. LV Zhaoping, Vice President of USTB attended the event and delivered New Year greetings. The leaders of both universities praised the contribution of the Confucius Institute to the cultural diversity of DMU and Leicester city and looked forward to the early resumption of offline exchange visits to jointly promote humanistic exchanges between China and the UK, and to continue to support the Confucius Institute in improving and expanding Chinese language teaching and enriching the content of cultural activities. The Chinese tea ceremony, folk dance, Yue Opera excerpts, Hanfu (traditional costume of Han ethnic) dance, Guzheng(Chinese zither), Hulusi(cucurbit flute, Chinese instrument), and Baduanjin(traditional Chinese exercise) won a round of applause.

On January 19^th, the Confucius Institute and its affiliated Confucius classroom Little Bowden Primary School held a dumpling-making event to welcome the Chinese Lunar New Year. The students and teachers gathered together to knead the dough, roll the dumpling skin, mix the fillings, and wrap the dumplings. The children were excited to taste the dumplings made by themselves. The event allowed everyone to taste traditional Chinese food while learning about the customs of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which also shared Chinese culture.

BBC television twice reported on the New Year’s celebration at Haymarket Shopping Center

On January 20^th, the Confucius Institute, together with local partners such as Metropolis Performing Arts, held a full-day Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at the Haymarket Shopping Center in Leicester city center and participated in a research exhibition on the history of Chinese Immigration in Central England. The lion dance team and festive drums drew crowds of people. Cultural items such as Chinese lesson leaflets, calligraphy tools (paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones), traditional costumes, dancing handkerchiefs, paper cuttings, lanterns, spring couplets, the Chinese character “Fu”, Peking Opera face painting, folding fans, and chopsticks were displayed at the CI’s Chinese culture stand, where guests came in droves and itched to try them, with children enthusiastically participating in interactive sessions and bringing home DIY gifts themed on the Year of the Rabbit. The event was featured on BBC TV twice at noon and evening news.

Traditional Eastern Art Meets Western Museums

On January 21^st, the Confucius Institute, together with local partners including Metropolis Performing Arts and students and teachers from local primary and secondary schools, held an all-day comprehensive cultural performance to welcome the Year of the Rabbit at the New Walk Museum(Leicester's largest museum). The performance of a lion dance team and a kung fu team filled the western museum with a Chinese Lunar New Year atmosphere. A combination performance of Guzheng(Chinese zither), Pipa, Erhu, and flute showed the charm of ancient Chinese music. The Hanfu (traditional Chinese costume of Han ethnic) dance and Taichi fan performance perfectly brought out the beauty of the flowing and dashing Chinese classical dance and the rigidity and flexibility of Chinese martial arts; the Chinese Culture Corner was also popular with the local people who came to experience activities such as the Four Treasures of Literature(paper, ink, inkstone, and brush), calligraphy and paper-cutting, traditional costumes and chopsticks and shuttlecocks. Local people were able to experience the richness of Chinese culture and the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year.

Lion and dragon dance traveled through the city on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year

On the 22nd of January, the Confucius Institute, in collaboration with the Municipality of Leicester, local partners, and students and teachers of DMU, organized a large Chinese New Year celebration. The dragon and lion dances from the DMU campus to Green Dragon Square in the city center attracted many people to take photos and follow the parade to the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Square, where they joined the team of dragon dance, gongs and drums, the twelve signs of the zodiac, the traditional oilpaper umbrellas, the mascot team, the music trucks, and the local people. A number of journalists accompanied the event and reported it. The parade grew in size with the sound of gongs and drums and Chinese folk music as it made its way through several commercial streets in the center of Leicester. Driven by the lively New Year atmosphere, pedestrians volunteered to join the team, and experienced the fun of dragon dance, holding zodiac signs and umbrellas, and acting tigers and pandas. BBC television featured a variety of colorful events throughout the day.

Celebrate Spring Festival: laser fireworks and laser music at Green Dragon Square

On the evening of January 22^nd, the Confucius Institute and the Municipality of Leicester held performances including Tai Chi, iron flower dance, laser fireworks, and laser music show in Green Dragon Square, which brought the Chinese New Year celebrations to a climax. A large red backdrop with a cute white rabbit and the words “Celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year” were displayed on the wall. The venue was crowded with spectators and cheers rang out as the fireworks reflected in the night sky.

The Four Treasures of the study, the lasting charm of Chinese culture

On January 24th, Confucius Institute held a workshop on Chinese calligraphy and painting in the Library of the School of Art, Design and Humanities Building of DMU. The teachers of the Confucius Institute taught about the enduring charm of Chinese painting and calligraphy. Students also mastered skills of drawing bamboo and panda and the writing of the Chinese character “fu”. They displayed their “works” and experienced Chinese culture.

Tea art and Guzheng, the traditional items that unfold Chinese appeal

On January 27^th, CI teachers organized a small show in the CI Library for students, teachers, and local friends and partners on the theme of “the Year of the Rabbit”. The program included Tai Chi fan dance, Chinese costume dance, traditional folk dances, guzheng, erhu, and cucurbit flute performances, magic shows, and interactive prize competitions. This Chinese New Year celebration gave local friends a first-hand experience of the richness and diversity of traditional Chinese culture, as well as the joyful atmosphere of the Chinese New Year.

The CI contributed to the Celebration Chinese Lunar New Year at Leicester Chinese School

On January 29^th, at the invitation of Dr. LI Jin, President of Leicester Chinese School, teachers from the Confucius Institute attended the Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration at Leicester Chinese School. Teacher ZHANG Dongming, on behalf of the CI, extended New Year’s greetings to the teachers and students. In the performance section, the Confucius Institute teachers presented the Hanfu dance “A state of ceremonies”, the classical dance “Peach Blossom and Running Water”, the cucurbit flute performance “Blue and White Porcelain”, the guzheng solo “Fighting Typhoon” and the folk songs of the Yi ethnic group. This party made the teachers of the Confucius Institute feel the happiness of being at home and the joy of the success of the activity.

The CI organized Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations for three key secondary schools at Loughborough

On January 30^th, the Confucius Institute was invited to Loughborough to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at three key secondary schools, Beauchamp College, De Lisle Academy, and Magnus Academy, where the leaders, teachers, and students gave a warm welcome. On behalf of the Confucius Institute, Ms. LIU Wei, the Operations Coordinator of CI, wished the students and teachers of the three schools an auspicious Year of the Rabbit and introduced the material and spiritual aspects of Chinese life with an interactive quiz on Chinese Lunar New Year customs. Activities such as Tai Chi fan, calligraphy, paper-cutting, and shuttlecock were held to give the students a taste of traditional Chinese culture and to enhance their interest in learning the Chinese language and culture.

The CI organized Tai Chi fan dance workshop for international exchange students at DMU to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rabbit

On January 31^st, Confucius Institute teachers organized a Tai Chi fan dance workshop for Jordanian exchange students at DMU in the Confucius Institute Library. This was the fifth event organized by the CI to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rabbit. After congratulating the Jordanian students on the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Confucius Institute teachers gave a brief introduction to the Tai Chi fan dance and demonstrated the technique. After the interactive exercises, the students were able to master the skills of opening and closing the fan and had a first-hand experience of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The CI celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rabbit with a Chinese Day event at Queensmead Primary Academy

On February 1^st, Confucius Institute was invited to Queensmead Primary Academy to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rabbit with a Chinese Day event. The Confucius Institute teachers performed Tai Chi fan dance and Chinese classical dance for over 110 students and teachers at the school. Afterward, the students were given an introduction to Chinese culture and tried their hand at learning basic Chinese expressions. The one-day event was well received by the students and teachers and laid the foundation for further cooperation.

The CI celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year with International Students of DMU

On the evening of February 3^rd, at the invitation of the DMU International School, the Confucius Institute held its sixth Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at The Venue, the largest event center of DMU. The Confucius Institute’s logo and the image of the lucky rabbit on the screens on both sides of the stage stood out against the red curtains and carpet, and the festive atmosphere of the Chinese Lunar New Year was in full swing. The Confucius Institute teachers performed the guzheng solo “Liu Yang River” and the Chinese costume dance “The State of Ceremonies” for nearly 300 international students of DMU, adding a Chinese character to the food and drinks served to the participants.

The CI organized a “China Day” for high school students from Leicester

On the 7th of February, the Confucius Institute welcomed high school students from Leicester who visited the DMU Market and Communication department. The Confucius Institute teachers organized a special “China Day” in the Confucius Institute library to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, which included a shuttlecock, Chinese chess, and weiqi(Chinese go), giving the children a taste of Chinese culture in an enjoyable atmosphere.

The CI co-organized the 2023 Chinese Lunar New Year Gala with Chinese Students and Scholars Associations of three universities in Leicestershire (De Montfort University, University of Leicester, and Loughborough University)

On the evening of February 12^th, the Confucius Institute, as a co-organizer, assisted the Chinese Students and Scholars Associations of three universities in Leicestershire (De Montfort University, University of Leicester, and Loughborough University) to co-organize the 2023 Chinese Lunar New Year Gala at the famous Athena Theatre in Leicester city center. Mr. Simon Bradbury, Vice president of DMU and British Director of the Confucius Institute, and Dr. YANG Yingjun, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, sent congratulatory videos for the gala. Confucius Institute teacher YU Xingrui participated in the rehearsal and performance as one of the hosts. Confucius Institute intern CHEN Anqi presented a long-sleeve performance of the Yue Opera “Dancing with Sleeves”. All the Confucius Institute teachers went to support the performance, and the party was a great success.

Draft: YANG Yingjun & JI Shuang

Revision: CHENG Mingyuan