The Confucius Institute at Zayed University hosted a Lunar New Year celebration at Applied Technology Schools Baniyas boys’ campus on February 17, welcoming male students to a dynamic cultural event. This activity complemented an equally successful celebration held at the school’s girls’ campus the previous day, ensuring all students had the opportunity to experience the rich traditions of Chinese New Year. Dr. Kate Plumb, school principal, along with Deputy Principals Layali Hamaidi and Masada Albreiki, attended the event.
The celebration opened with a vibrant lion dance performance, whose flowing movements captivated the audience and culminated in a symbolic moment when the lion unveiled spring couplets, conveying New Year blessings upon all present. Following this, a local martial arts enthusiast took the stage, performing authentic Chinese martial arts with impressive technique and energy, further energizing the crowd.
After the performances, three interactive cultural activity stations operated simultaneously. At the traditional woodblock printing, rubbing, and calligraphy station, students personally created auspicious characters and wrote Chinese characters by hand, gaining hands-on appreciation for these traditional crafts. The shuttlecock activity proved highly engaging, with participants immersed in this classic Chinese sport while learning simple Chinese phrases such as “Happy New Year,” “Pass it to me,” and “shuttlecock.” The popular food tasting area featuring dumplings and candied hawthorn offered attendees an authentic taste of Chinese New Year traditions.
By reaching both male and female students, the two-day program achieved comprehensive student participation and successfully disseminated Chinese culture across the campus. The celebration deepened local students’ understanding of the Chinese New Year while enhancing the Confucius Institute’s visibility and influence. School leadership expressed enthusiastic appreciation for the event’s success, and the Confucius Institute looks forward to deepening its partnership with Applied Technology Schools Baniyas in the years ahead.
