Chinese New Year Workshops
5 February 2025
Confucius Institute at Newcastle University Hosts Two-Day Chinese New Year Workshops
On January 21 and the morning of January 23 (local time), Confucius Institute at Newcastle University (NUCI) hosted a two-day series of Chinese New Year workshops. Confucius Institute teachers conducted a range of engaging and festive workshops at North Gosforth Academy and Biddick Hall Infant and Nursery School, allowing children to experience the unique charm of Chinese culture through activities such as the Wubuquan (Five-Step Fist), calligraphy, paper cutting, traditional Chinese painting, and dumpling making.
The Five-Step Fist Workshop was held at Biddick Hall Infant and Nursery School, where Professor Yuxiao Su, Chinese Director of NUCI, and the CI teacher, Miss Lanjin Li, engaged enthusiastically with the children. The moment they mentioned Kung Fu Panda, the children were instantly captivated. "Do you want to learn Kung Fu?" Of course, the answer was a resounding "Yes!" Divided into four groups, the children followed Miss Li’s instructions diligently, imitating each move with remarkable precision—adorably resembling little martial artists. Throughout the lesson, every child received panda stickers as encouragement, which they absolutely adored, proudly sticking them onto their clothes and hands. The teachers also taught them to say "panda" and "thank you" in Chinese. At the end of the day, as the teachers were about to leave, a few of the little ones ran up to give them warm hugs goodbye.
The calligraphy workshop took place at North Gosforth Academy, where 60 Year 7 and Year 8 students participated. CI teacher Ms Xiaolu Tan led the session, with another CI teacher Miss Jiaying Lü assisting.
The workshop began with the teachers warmly greeting students in Chinese, saying "你好" ("Hello"). To introduce Chinese New Year customs, Ms Tan played an episode of Peppa Pig, a beloved show among British students, followed by a fun quiz session. Students not only gained a deeper understanding of the festival but also won greeting cards, stickers, and other small prizes. Their enthusiasm soared, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
One of the highlights was the Dragon Dance, a traditional Chinese New Year celebration. The students eagerly formed a long line, placing their hands on each other’s shoulders to create a "dragon." As the music played, they moved rhythmically, bringing the joyful energy of the festival to life.
Of course, no New Year celebration is complete without New Year blessings. The teachers guided students in writing festive calligraphy, holding their hands as they practiced using Chinese brushes. They also explained the cultural meanings and writing techniques of auspicious characters such as "春" (Spring), "福" (Blessing), "发" (Prosperity), and "财" (Wealth). With focused determination, students dipped their brushes in ink and carefully wrote these lucky phrases on red paper, filling the room with an atmosphere of joy and creativity.
The Paper Cutting Workshop was led by the CI teacher Miss Xingyi Jiang, with another CI teacher Miss Jiaying Lü assisting. Year 2 students from Biddick Hall eagerly participated.
Miss Jiang introduced the rich history and cultural significance of Chinese paper cutting, showcasing intricate designs that left the students in awe. The highlight of the session was cutting panda-shaped paper art. With full concentration, the children carefully followed instructions and created adorable panda cutouts. Even after the class ended, they were still immersed in excitement, looking forward to future cultural activities.
The Traditional Chinese Painting Workshop was conducted by the CI teacher Miss Liujing Zhu, with Ms Xiaolu Tan assisting. It was an interactive art experience for Year 1 students at Biddick Hall.
Miss Zhu introduced the three main styles of Chinese painting: Flower-and-Bird Painting, Landscape Painting, and Figure Painting, helping students distinguish their characteristics. She then displayed a photo of a baby panda, guiding students to observe its various colors in preparation for painting.
To make brush techniques engaging and age-appropriate, she used the concepts of the “happy brush” and “tired brush” to teach center and side brush strokes. The students eagerly applied these techniques, painting pandas full of character and charm.
The Dumpling-Making Workshop was held at Hexham Middle School, where Professor Yuxiao Su and Miss Xingyi Jiang led six students and two local teachers in a fun culinary experience.
Professor Su explained the three symbolic meanings of making and eating dumplings during Chinese New Year: reunion, prosperity, and a vibrant life. Students worked together to grate carrots and mix fillings, thoroughly enjoying the preparation process. When it came to wrapping dumplings, their creativity shone—they even experimented with unique shapes! Tasting their own handmade dumplings was a delight, and at the end of the session, all the six students took extras home to share with their families.
A New Year, A New Chapter—the Confucius Institute at Newcastle University kicked off 2025 with cultural workshops, bringing Chinese culture to life through hands-on experiences and joyful celebrations.
2025, here we come!
