Confucius Institute at Victoria University of Wellington

🎮 Chinese Language Week in Whanganui – play, learn, and dance!

Students at Mosston, Kai Iwi, and St George's schools had a blast trying traditional Chinese games – chopstick challenges, pitch‑pot, shuttlecock kicking, and even air‑gun character shooting! 🥢🎯🏸

A mini‑concert and a group dance to "Little Apple" wrapped up the fun. Thanks to Beck Ding and Yang Chen for bringing the energy!

📸 Check out the highlights!

Qixi Festival (七夕节)
🌙 Qixi Festival – A Legend of Love and Stars

Tonight is Qixi Festival (七夕节), also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day – a beautiful love story written in the stars. 💫

Legend says that the cowherd Niú Láng and the weaver girl Zhī Nǚ, separated by the Milky Way, meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. On this night, magpies form a bridge across the sky so they can reunite. 🐦🌉

Traditionally, people would pray for weaving skills, make wishes, and gaze at the stars. Today, it’s celebrated with flowers, sweet words, and romantic gestures – but the heart of it remains timeless: love that crosses all distances.

Wherever you are tonight, take a moment to look up – love is written in the stars. ✨

#七夕

Last week we hosted China Crossing VI. And what a fabulous week of cultural exchange, creativity and music it was! In collaboration with New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī, Victoria University of Wellington China Crossing VI began with inspiring masterclasses and composition workshops led by Chinese-based composer Gao Ping for NZSM students, culminating in two concerts celebrating contemporary and traditional music from both China and New Zealand and the live concert world premiere of Gao Ping's Cloud Drama.

Huge thanks to the outstanding musicians who brought the unique programme to life: Gao Ping (composer and piano), Lan Weiwei (p**a), Martin Riseley (violin), Natalia Mann (harp), Gabriela Glapska (piano), and Hsuan-Chen Lin (ruan) . It was such a privilege to work with you all.

We also thank our wonderful Confucius Institute Arts Advisor Luo Hui for curating such a rich and engaging programme.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the concerts. Videos of the concert coming soon! ✨🎵

欢喜 (Huānxǐ)
😊 欢喜 – “Joyful / Delighted”
English‑friendly: “Hwan‑shee”
(hwan rhymes with “wan” with an h, shee like “she”)

A warm, heartfelt word for joy that comes from the heart. It’s not loud excitement – it’s the quiet happiness of seeing a friend, receiving a kind message, or simply feeling content. Often used in Buddhist and literary contexts, but also in everyday Chinese.

Example:
今天我的心情很欢喜。
Jīntiān wǒ de xīnqíng hěn huānxǐ.
“I’m feeling very joyful today.”

📣Applications for schools interested in hosting a Mandarin Language Assistant for 2027 are open! Share with any schools you think would be interested.

Mandarin Language Assistant programme | 惠灵顿 维多利亚大学 孔子学院 / Confucius Institute | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Learn more about Mandarin Language Assistants (MLAs), who help promote the learning of Mandarin in New Zealand schools.

Song Contest – 15 Days Left!
🎤 15Days to Go – New Zealand Chinese Song Contest 2026!

The deadline is fast approaching! ⏰

If you’ve been thinking about entering our New Zealand Chinese Song Contest, now is the time to act. This is your chance to showcase your singing talent, celebrate Chinese language and culture, and be in to win some amazing prizes – including prize packs worth up to $500! 🏆🎶

📅 Submission deadline: 30 August 2026 – that's in 15 days!🔗 Link"https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/ci/scholarships-and-competitions/nz-school-students-chinese-song-contest"for registration and full details.

🎨 A blooming success – over two beautiful days!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Chinese Painting and Flower Tea Experience! 🌸🖌️

Inspired by the Chinese 12 Flower Goddesses, we explored the elegance of traditional Chinese painting, capturing the spirit of flowers with simple brushstrokes and ink. And of course, no flower-themed gathering would be complete without a warm cup of fragrant flower tea! 🌼☕

A big thank you to our instructor for guiding us through the brushwork, and to everyone who brought such wonderful energy to the sessions.

🎤 Chinese Bridge 2026 – Contestant Interviews!

Hear from our contestants about their Chinese learning journeys, their favourite moments, and what Chinese Bridge means to them.

🎥 Watch now:

#汉语桥

2026 Chinese Bridge contestant Interviews Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

缘分 (Yuánfèn)
🍀 缘分 – “Fateful connection”
English‑friendly: “Yoo‑en‑fun”
(yoo like “you”, en like “end” without d, fun like “fun”)

A beautiful concept in Chinese culture – the invisible thread that brings people together. It’s the “meant‑to‑be” feeling when you meet someone special, or the serendipity of crossing paths with a stranger.

Example:
认识你真是我们的缘分。
Rènshi nǐ zhēn shì wǒmen de yuánfèn.
“Meeting you is truly our fate.”

🧘 Mandarin Corner: Tai Chi – What a calming afternoon!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Tai Chi session last Saturday! 🌿

We had a wonderful time exploring the gentle movements and peaceful philosophy behind this traditional Chinese martial art.

📸 Swipe to see some moments from the afternoon.

We hope you left feeling calmer, more focused, and a little more connected to Chinese culture. Stay tuned for our next Mandarin Corner – we’d love to see you again!