The Confucius Institute at Sapienza University of Rome hosted an International Chinese Language Day celebration on April 17, attracing nearly 50 students and local Chinese language enthusiasts. The event was covered by RAI 2, Italy’s national television network.
In a pre-event interview on April 16, Professor Federico Masini, the Italian director of the Confucius Institute, discussed the institute’s development and explained the cultural significance of International Chinese Language Day. The celebration took place on Grain Rain, a traditional Chinese solar term, and commemorates Cangjie, the legendary creator of Chinese characters, connecting contemporary language learning to this ancient heritage.
The day’s activities featured three immersive cultural stations, with participants earning panda stickers for completing each activity. Those who collected two stickers entered a drawing for Chinese-themed prizes.
At the tea appreciation station, instructors explained the classification and cultural significance of Chinese tea, offering participant tastings of green tea, black tea, and oolong tea. The calligraphy section invited participants to learn brushwork fundamentals and write characters representing concepts such as peace (和平), joy (喜乐), and unity among all peoples (四海一家). In the landscape painting workshop, attendees learned traditional techniques by sketching classic subjects—plum blossoms, orchids, and bamboo—alongside instructors.
The program also included self-guided stations exploring the Chinese zodiac and the evolution of oracle bone script into modern Chinese characters.
The celebration concluded with performances by students from the institute’s flagship “Learn Chinese Through Song” program, who sang the pieces Ten Thousand Miles and If We Never Met, to enthusiastic audience applause.
“Events like these transform Chinese from a language encountered only in textbooks into something tangible and dynamic,” said organizers. “Our goal is to deepen everyone’s interest in both the Chinese language and Chinese culture.”
