On May 8, the United Kingdom celebration of the United Nations International Chinese Language Day concluded successfully in London. Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom, this year’s event was themed A Gift Through Time and brought together more than 10 educational institutions and media organizations from across the country.
The Confucius Institute jointly established by the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) and De Montfort University (DMU) was the only Confucius Institute outside London invited to participate. Following its debut at the event last year, the Institute received a second invitation, reflecting its growing influence in promoting Chinese language education and cultural exchange between China and the United Kingdom.
Group Photo of Confucius Institute Teachers
Celebrating Chinese Language and Culture Through Interactive Experiences, the event featured a diverse range of activities, including opening performances, keynote speeches, cultural workshops, and interactive exhibitions, creating an immersive cultural experience for participants.
Highlights included promotional displays from the Digital Museum of Chinese Characters, virtual reality experiences of historical sites in China, and interactive activities inspired by oracle bone inscriptions. Students enthusiastically moved among eight themed workshops, demonstrating strong interest in Chinese language and culture.
Opening Performance and Guest Speech Session
One of the most popular attractions was the Confucius Institute’s workshop, The Art of Chinese Characters: Creative Character Painting. Building on the success of its previous participation, the workshop was comprehensively upgraded this year. Through artistic creation and the concept of “time travel,” participants were guided on a journey to explore the pictographic origins of Chinese characters and their historical evolution.
Under the guidance of Confucius Institute teachers, participants transformed characters such as 明 (bright), 水(water), and 花 (flower) into vivid visual artworks. Through storytelling, historical explanations, and interactive games, students gained a deeper understanding of the cultural meanings embedded within Chinese characters.
Participants also recreated ancient character-formation gestures, such as covering the eyes with a hand to illustrate the origin of certain pictographs, allowing them to experience firsthand the creativity and wisdom behind the Chinese writing system. Many participants incorporated personal messages and aspirations into their artwork, including phrases such as “I enjoy speaking Chinese” and “Keep striving forward,” demonstrating both their enthusiasm for Chinese language learning and their appreciation of Chinese culture.
Exploring the Wisdom of Chinese Characters through the DMU Face-Painting Workshop
The Confucius Institute creatively integrated Chinese character instruction with face-painting art, attracting a large number of participants through its distinctive approach that combines cultural experience with language learning. Through this innovative teaching practice, the Institute once again demonstrated that innovation serves not only as a catalyst for cultural communication but also as a bridge for overcoming language barriers.
Looking ahead, the University of Science and Technology Beijing–De Montfort University Confucius Institute will continue to explore innovative approaches to Chinese language education and contribute new momentum to cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations.
