The Business Confucius Institute at the University of Leeds, 利兹大学商务孔子学院

🐉 Happy Dragon Boat Festival! 🐉
🐉 端午安康!🐉

A big thank you to everyone who joined us at yesterday's Dragon Boat Festival celebration at the Business Confucius Institute! It was fantastic to welcome students, staff, and members of the local community for an afternoon of culture, learning, food, and fun. 🎉

During the event, we:

📖 Learned about the history and traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival

🎭 Discovered the story of Qu Yuan through a dramatic performance

🚣 Explored the significance of dragon boat racing and its connection to the festival

🍙 Learned about zongzi and its important place in Dragon Boat Festival celebrations

🍵 Sampled traditional refreshments, including ludougao (mung bean cake) and Chinese tea

🥢 Put our chopstick skills to the test in a fun challenge

❓🏆 Took part in a Dragon Boat Festival quiz and competed for prizes

Thank you again to everyone who attended and helped make the event such a success. We loved celebrating this important festival with you! ❤️

📸📖 Want to see more photos and learn more about the event? Read the full story here: https://confucius.leeds.ac.uk/news/leeds-university-celebrates-the-dragon-boat-festival/

🐉 Don’t Miss Tomorrow’s Dragon Boat Festival Celebration Event with the BCI🐉

📅 Date: Thursday 18th June
⏰ Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Maurice Keyworth SR1.32

Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival with a fun and interactive cultural workshop exploring one of China’s most famous traditional festivals. Discover the story of Qu Yuan, learn about the traditions behind the festival, and enjoy authentic festival foods.

Join us for a fun and interactive celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Festival)!

🌟 What to Expect:

📖 Discover the history and legends behind the Dragon Boat Festival
🐉 Learn about the famous myth of Qu Yuan
🍃 Explore the cultural significance of zongzi (traditional rice dumplings)
😋 Taste authentic festival foods
🎉 Take part in fun, engaging games
🎁 Win exciting prizes!

👉 Click here to register!
https://confucius.leeds.ac.uk/events/dragon-boat-festival-workshop/

We were delighted to welcome award-winning Hangzhou Opera and Dance Drama Theatre to Stageatleeds for a truly unforgettable afternoon exploring their acclaimed production To Meet the Grand Canal 《遇见大运河》✨

From a powerful documentary revealing the intense discipline and dedication behind the dancers’ craft, to a breathtaking live performance by an internationally touring ensemble of 40 elite performers, the event offered a rare insight into world-class Chinese dance drama.

The performance brought to life the story of the Grand Canal (大运河), weaving together history, culture, and important environmental themes around sustainability and protecting nature 🌿

The afternoon concluded with an insightful panel discussion featuring the production team, offering audiences a deeper understanding of the creative process and global cultural exchange in the performing arts.

A huge thank you to all who joined us!

👉 Click to read more: https://confucius.leeds.ac.uk/news/incredible-performance-from-award-winning-hangzhou-opera-and-dance-drama-to-meet-the-grand-canal-%e9%81%87%e8%a7%81%e5%a4%a7%e8%bf%90%e6%b2%b3-theatre/

#遇见大运河

🎉 University of Leeds Students Shine at the 25th Chinese Bridge UK Finals!

Three students from the University of Leeds proudly represented the University at the 25th Chinese Bridge UK Finals, a prestigious global competition celebrating Mandarin language learning and cultural exchange. ✨

Serenay Koch, Tomas Fraser, and Ethan Atherton delivered outstanding performances, showcasing not only their Mandarin language skills but also their creativity, confidence, and deep understanding of Chinese culture. 🎤🎶📖

🌟 A major highlight came from Ethan Atherton, who was awarded the Most Creative Award, achieving the highest score in the cultural performance category — a fantastic recognition of his originality and performance with with a dramatic stage retelling of the attempted assassination of China's First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang 《荆轲刺秦王》

The students were supported throughout by The Business Confucius Institute at University of Leeds, reflecting the University’s commitment to global engagement, cultural exchange, and student success 🌍🤝

An incredible achievement for all three students — and a proud moment for Leeds on the national stage 💙

🔗 Read more in detail here: https://confucius.leeds.ac.uk/news/university-of-leeds-students-shine-at-the-25th-chinese-bridge-uk-finals/

🚀 Free Lunchtime Talk: Insights from Yorkshire’s Largest Trade Delegation to China - Tues 9th June 12-1pm

Join us for an inspiring guest speaker event with Christina Xu — Leeds alumna, entrepreneur, and Founder of China Marketing Corp.

Hear first-hand:

✨ Her journey from Leeds student to successful founder
📱 Trends shaping marketing and social media in China
🌐 Real-world insights from the China & Hong Kong trade mission
💡 Honest reflections on cross-border business challenges & opportunities

📅 Tuesday 9 June
⏰ 12:00 – 13:00
📍 Clothworkers Court, Speakman Lecture Theatre (G.89)
🙌 Free to attend – all are welcome!

Stick around for a live Q&A and get your questions answered directly by someone working at the forefront of UK–China business.

👉 Don’t miss this chance to gain practical insights and global perspective
👉 Register now - https://confucius.leeds.ac.uk/events/7959-2/

When did you last take an hour just to pause and listen?

Our partners at the Wellbeing Hub are hosting Sonic Belonging – a beautiful lunchtime performance of traditional Chinese music and dance, open to everyone.

✨ Free, relaxed and drop-in
🎶 A chance to unwind and connect through music
📍 University of Leeds | 4 June, 1:30–2:30pm

No experience, no booking – just come along and enjoy the moment.

🔗 https://www.healthybuildingsnetwork.org/events/workshops/sonic/sonic.html

Ready to learn a new language?

Chinese classes have once again arrived at the University of Leeds! ✨

📅 New courses begin the week commencing Tuesday, 12 May 2026
📍 University of Leeds campus
⌚ Weekday and Weekend classes

Whether you’re a complete beginner or already on your language-learning journey, we’ve got a class to suit your level. With both weekday evening and weekend options available, it’s easier than ever to fit learning into your schedule.

Our teachers come directly from China, bringing authentic experience and cultural insight to every lesson. Plus—continuing learners, University of Leeds students, and staff can enjoy special discounts.

⚠️ Spaces are limited, so don’t wait!
👉 Full details and registration are available on our Business Confucius Institute website:
https://confucius.leeds.ac.uk/what-we-offer/chinese-courses/

Final Day China Camp 2026! 🐉

..and so our amazing trip comes to an end with a visit to

🧱 Xi'an City Wall

Where students walked, cycled, and ran the 13.7km beautiful and original city wall.

Our group of sixteen University of Leeds students (aged 18–22) have just returned from two unforgettable weeks in Beijing and Xi’an — exploring iconic sites like the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Terracotta Warriors, and the Great Wall.

Read the full report here - https://confucius.leeds.ac.uk/news/china-camp-26-two-unforgettable-weeks-in-beijing-and-xian/

🐦✨ Introduction to Chinese… through Birdwatching!

Another amazing event with the BCI! Yesterday students joined teacher Qingyuan Yang for a unique and creative Mandarin session inspired by the world of birds. From learning to write 飞 (fēi, “to fly”) and 鸟 (niǎo, “bird”) to discovering how Chinese names birds through colour, shape, and sound, it was an hour full of curiosity and laughter.

🎨 A highlight? A fun drawing challenge where students sketched birds for the group to guess—featuring an impressive peacock and amazing penguin!

👉 Tap the link to read more about this event - https://confucius.leeds.ac.uk/news/introduction-to-chinese-language-through-birdwatching/




#2026国际中文日
Center for Language Education and Cooperation