About the Institute
The Confucius Institute Nuremberg-Erlangen was established on May 2, 2006, as a joint initiative of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). It is one of the two earliest Confucius Institutes founded in Germany.
The Institute has earned recognition as the Confucius Institute of the Year (2013 and 2018) and was named one of the first 15 Model Confucius Institutes in 2015. In 2018, it opened the first—and to date only—dedicated art space among all Confucius Institutes worldwide. Dr. Yan Xu-Lackner has served as German Director since the Institute’s founding; she received the Outstanding CI Individual Award in 2010 and 2019, and the Medal for Long Service as a Confucius Institute Director in 2021.
The Institute operates across two cities: its main office is located in Nuremberg, adjacent to the city park, and includes a lecture hall, library, and classrooms. A separate Art Space—an independent exhibition gallery of over 200 square meters near Nuremberg Castle—stages five to six curated exhibitions each year and hosts one Chinese artist-in-residence annually, supported by the City of Nuremberg. Teaching activities also extend to Erlangen and other cities across the Franconia region of Bavaria.
Programs and Activities
Chinese Language Teaching & Proficiency Tests
The Institute offers a broad range of Chinese language courses serving university students, school-age learners, and the general public:
· Accredited courses within FAU’s Sinology degree program
· Elective credit courses through FAU’s Language Centre
· IB Diploma Program (IBDP) Chinese Literature
· Beginner, intermediate, and advanced general Chinese courses
· Business Chinese
· HSK and YCT examination preparation
Courses are delivered across 20 teaching sites in Nuremberg, Erlangen, Fürth, Bamberg, and surrounding communities. In the 2025 academic year, total enrolment reached 1,125 students.
The Institute regularly administers HSK, HSKK, and YCT examinations; 265 candidates sat these tests in 2025.
Faculty Development & Academic Research
The Institute organizes regular professional development workshops and online seminars for local Chinese-language teachers, focusing on practical classroom strategies and teaching methodology.
On the research side, the Institute supports FAU’s international humanities programs and collaborates with the International Society for the Critical Study of Divination in publishing the peer-reviewed International Journal of Divination and Prognostication. Academic lectures interpreting contemporary China are held regularly. A dedicated Analects database is also under ongoing development.
Cultural Programs
In 2025, the Institute hosted 108 cultural events attracting nearly 10,000 participants. Highlights included:
· “Melody of Spring” Concert—in collaboration with the City of Erlangen and Siemens, the Young Chinese Music Ensemble of the Central Conservatory of Music performed to mark International Chinese Language Day 2025.
· “High-Speed Rail” multidisciplinary project—a photography exhibition pairing Chinese and German artists, a documentary screening by Chengdu Broadcasting & TV, a joint forum with the German Railways Museum (DB Museum) Nuremberg, and themed Chinese-language classes for school groups.
· Yue Opera Dream of the Red Chamber—the German premiere by the Ningbo Little Hundred Flowers Yue Opera Troupe, performed at Nuremberg’s Meistersinger Concert Hall.
· Contemporary Chinese Literature Series—readings by novelists Liang Hong, Lu Min, Dong Xi, Yi Zhou, Aima, and Lin Sen at the Nuremberg Literaturhaus and FAU.
Signature Initiatives
“Chinese +” Curriculum—Since the 2023/24 winter semester, the Institute has offered Business Chinese as a dedicated track, equipping economics and business students with language skills and cross-cultural competencies for study and internship opportunities in China.
“Culture Backpack” Schools Program—In 2025, the Institute participated in the third edition of this Nuremberg city-supported initiative, reaching 22 secondary schools, 44 classes, and approximately 700 students through interactive language and culture sessions.
Seasonal Concert Series—The Institute’s Spring Festival Concert at the Meistersinger Concert Hall, Spring Festival Gala in Erlangen, Spring Festival Reception at the DB Museum Nuremberg, and Mid-Autumn Concert have become anchor events in the local cultural calendar.
Art Space—The Institute’s independent gallery provides a professional exhibition platform for emerging and established Chinese artists, as well as international artists working with Chinese themes, staging five to six shows annually.
Looking Ahead
The Institute will continue to deepen its Chinese-language curriculum, advance the integration of language, culture, and the arts, and expand its audience through new programming formats and partnerships. Building on its established signature events, it aims to identify fresh cultural contexts that bring Chinese language and culture to new communities across the Nuremberg-Erlangen region.
Contact
German Director: Dr. Yan Xu-Lackner
Email: info@konfuzius-institut.de
Website: konfuzius-institut.de
Phone: +49 911 9231 8225
Address: Konfuzius-Institut Nürnberg-Erlangen e. V., Virchowstraße 23, D-90409 Nürnberg, Germany
